Grant to Support I-69 Study
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Bloomington Economic Development Corp. has been awarded a grant from The Duke Energy Foundation to conduct an economic impact study on a planned stretch of I-69 from Bloomington to Martinsville. The report will focus on land planning and business attraction and retention efforts.
January 12, 2015
News Release
Bloomington, Ind. — The Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) announced today that it has been awarded a Duke Energy Economic and Workforce Development grant to complete a comprehensive research assessment to identify strategies and practices in land use planning as Monroe County prepares for Interstate 69. The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to communities across their service area.
Currently, zoning is being studied for a master plan in Monroe County where existing and future employment zones will be traversed by I-69. The $15,000 grant will fund a study which will be available as a tool for local economic development and policy-makers to support continued economic development in the area.
“This is an opportunity to make better informed decisions on modern land use planning which should lead to an increase in job opportunities and growth in the overall economic well-being of our community in relation to I-69” said Lynn Coyne, President of the BEDC. “Duke Energy's generous support is pivotal.”
The BEDC will partner with the Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC) at Indiana University and local consulting firm Strategic Development Group to identify trends in modern land use planning, business attraction and retention, and utilization of our region's marketable assets. The study will also assess economic conditions in peer cities that have experienced a new interstate project.
“We are very pleased to partner with the BEDC to help support this comprehensive research assessment,” said Bruce Calloway, Duke Energy Indiana community relations manager for Monroe County. “This study will provide data for government officials and community leaders to consider as we prepare for the impact of I-69.”
The target deadline for this study is June 2015.
About the BEDC
The BEDC is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the retention, development and attraction of quality jobs in Monroe County. The BEDC is led by a partnership of private industry leaders, the City of Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana University and Ivy Tech Community College–Bloomington. For more information, visit www.comparebloomington.us.
About Duke Energy
Duke Energy Indiana's operations provide about 7,500 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 800,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it the state's largest electric supplier. More information about the company is available at: www.duke-energy.com.
Source: Bloomington Economic Development Corp.