Regional RDA seeks public opinion Friday

The Our Southern Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) is seeking advice from the public on the revision of a 2015 regional development plan on Friday, April 5, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Washington County Courthouse, 99 Public Square, in Salem.  Anyone living or working in Clark, Floyd, Jefferson, Scott or Washington counties is welcome to attend.  

After 15 months, the RDA board of directors has completed the groundwork and is ready to look at adapting the plan to the changed circumstances.

For example, the original plan, which was completed in 2016 in response to the State of Indiana’s Regional Cities Initiative, included Harrison County. However, the Harrison County Council voted not to participate and has since been replaced by Jefferson County in the five-county Southern Indiana RDA.

In addition, many location and regional municipalities within the RDA footprint have adopted community development plans which will need to be considered when updating the proposal.

The input session will be an open house featuring several stations where members of the public may learn more about the planning process, share ideas and discuss interests. Members of the planning team and the RDA board of directors will also be available to answer any questions.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation granted the Our Southern Indiana RDA $150,000 in October of 2018 for this express purpose of updating the former plan. The goal of the Our Southern Indiana Regional Economic Development Plan is to chart a course, which if followed, will draw public and private investment and quality-of-life improvements to the Southern Indiana region.

In addition to setting goals for future projects, the plan will assess the regional assets and challenges and identify funding opportunities for the region and each county, as well as outline each county’s role in achieving regional goals. The end product will provide the RDA with a work plan that will become a sustainable guiding for the region for the next 15 years.

For more information, visit https://oursoinrda.org/about-%2F-faq