1. ADVANCING PERSONAL PROSPERITY & ECONOMIC VITALITY

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1 1. ADVANCING PERSONAL PROSPERITY & ECONOMIC VITALITY 1. Improve access to internet in county & provide wireless downtown Meeting scheduled with Smithville Fiber to discuss working with current and/ or potential internet providers within the county. Meeting with Smithville Fiber held on 4/5 to discuss best approach for internet initiative. Worthwhile discussion, with next step being oneon-one discussions with all 6 existing providers. 2. Strengthen implementation of current workforce development initiatives* Region 9 is marrying employees to jobs, based on concern about retiring baby boomers. Two grant requests in process: salary funding of interns through Connexus, training of teachers for business knowledge. STEM Bicycle Club. Participated in joint meeting with Education Team and Department of Workforce Development. This is evolving into a joint initiative with valuable resources now in hand. Kathy Huffman provided team with update on EcO Scorecard and EcO accomplishments. 3. Develop bus transit system Gathering data on Catcha-Ride. Exploring best practices in other communities. Planning field trip to Bedford. Field trip to Bedford IN scheduled for 5/18 to explore the town s public transportation model. 4. Create incentives to recruit compatible development in undeveloped and vacant spaces in downtown and other targeted areas* Met with Matt Rueff from Ratio as part of city s comprehensive planning process. Waiting for comp plan to identify targeted areas and needed incentives. County and Hanover town council to identify areas in county. Will explore possible expanded use of TIF, with lead from Ratio and city comprehensive plan. Public workshop with Ratio on Madison s market data and economic indicators scheduled for 5/14.

2 2. CREATING ATTRACTIVE, PRODUCTIVE & DESIRABLE PLACES 1. Create an infrastructure repair, update, and design plan Staicer met again with Mayor, INDOT officials, Kim Nyberg and others to follow up on pedestrian safety improvements for Main Street. INDOT and the City will work on a number of these during 2016, including: Restriping existing crosswalks on Main Street. Adding rumble strips on SR 56 (Main Street) on east and west entry points to downtown and on US 421 (Jefferson Street) on the north entry point to the historic district. Install more easily seen speed limit signs in same locations The City will restripe parking spaces on Main Street this year. Continued discussions about including artwork on traffic switch boxes. 2. Strengthen code enforcement Working with OneMadison Comprehensive plan group to include suggestions for updated code language for rental properties, public nuisances, etc. in the plan. 3. Improve gateways and signage within the community See #2.1 above. Also continuing meeting with OneMadison and Project 421 new bridge approach project regarding gateways and signage. 4. Develop an active living infrastructure* See #2.1 above. Continuing support for America s Best Communities Hatcher Hill Connector project and comprehensive plan involvement. Continued support for ABC Hatcher Hill Connector project.

3 2-1. (continued) Several key crosswalks on Main Street have received piano key restriping. 5. Advocate for improvements to Main Street infrastructure. See #2.1 above. Also Comprehensive Plan involvement and Project 421 involvement. 6. Improve signage, sidewalks, and green space for Clifty Drive. Comprehensive Plan involvement. NOTE: SINCE THE FINAL DETAILS FOR MUCH OF THIS WORK IN THIS INITIATIVE AREA STILL NEED TO BE COORDINATED BETWEEN INDOT AND THE CITY, PLEASE DO NOT MAKE THIS INFORMATION PUBLIC AT THIS TIME.

4 3. CREATING QUALITY EDUCATION 1. Identify and promote community-based mentoring programs New chair of this project identified Tara Cox, who has been added to task force. Katie Jenner gave an overview of Hamilton County s Youth Assistance Program at 3/30 meeting. The team will work with Molly Dodge s group to identify areas for collaboration. Since YAP is a judge-based program, possible local players were identified. PRIDE program for Junior High is being explored. Dustin Bailey will assist with PBIS (Prevention Behaviors Intervention & Support) at MCHS. Girl Rising will be shown in August at Hanover as a collaboration among the college, Ivy Tech & MCHS. 2. Expand EcO Network opportunities Ongoing collaboration with team #1 on this effort. 3. Work with local employers to identify local jobs and career paths for those positions.* Meeting with DWD officials to hear presentation and discuss Madison s participation in DWD project to identify are job education requirements. March 30 team meeting discussed adult career readiness standards provided by DWD. An Indiana Manufacturing Occupational Survey will be distributed via Survey Monkey to schools, industry, and businesses in Jefferson County. Ongoing efforts to collect list of employers to receive survey this summer. 4. Create a quality education task force.* Trevor Jones and Phil Kahn have agreed to join the group. Next meeting set for March 30. Agenda items include a report from Dominic Grote on DWD an update from Katie J. regarding Hamilton County at-risk program, and an update on the Ivy Tech/ Hanover/Madison collaboration. Discussion around definition of quality education was renewed. Shaw, Southwestern, and Madison agreed to share their mission statements, and a draft definition has been developed. Other topics on the table include neuroscience advances and their impact on learning; and consolidation and critical mass in Jefferson County.

5 3-1. (continued) At its 5/4 meeting, the team decided that Merritt would approach local judges to discuss the Youth Assistance Program. If they are interested, a meet or call will be set up with the director of the Hamilton County program. Planning continues for the Girl Rising presentation, now scheduled for September, with two half-day programs.

6 4. SHAPING A VIBRANT COMMUNITY THROUGH ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS 1. Support Madison Area Arts Alliance plan* Local art was spotlighted during the Feb. 18 River Terrace ribbon cutting and VIP open house as well as the Feb. 21 public open house. MAAA had facilitated this purchase. Supporting arts-related recommendations in the comprehensive plan, which promotes using Arts & Culture as an economic anchor, and public art as an important quality of life amenity. 2. Develop a on-stop online community portal Working with new staff at Chamber to partner with new Chamber web site. Chamber director Lindsay Bloos and staff member Ashley Kress are moving ahead with new web site. The focus is on community information. This project may fulfill part of the goal of an online community portal. Members of the team will preview the new website on April 6 to see if it meets criteria or if a different portal is still needed. Previewed and critiqued the new Chamber web site While the site incorporates some of the Envision goals { connects online resources for local organizations, advertises community events, and provides lifestyle information ), it will need an additional push to become the go-to community calendar Advocate for new adventure activity in Clifty Falls state park Rocky Brown has been transferred to another park, so we will need to cultivate other contacts at Clifty Falls. 2-Advocate for a zip line somewhere in Jefferson County* Envision interns are interested in zip line project. Spring weather will bring opportunities to visit operating zip lines in other communities. RibberFest will include a zip line along the river during the festival. This will help us gauge interest in the concept and learn more about a viable business model for Madison. 4. Provide more recreation opportunities that use the Ohio River as an asset* Enthusiasm and support are high for the upgrade of a riverfront playground at Hargan-Matthews Park. Riverfront Development Corp. has committed money, and the City and County have been solicited Laura encouraged a private entrepreneur to submit a business plan to Main Street Program's business plan competition that may involve a recreational activity. Laura has talked with Madison Building Inspector Mark Johnson about controlling the unappealing congregating of turkey vultures near the Old Cotton Mill. Heritage Trail Conservancy continues to offer hikes and events. Next up: Caring for the Birds on Sat., March 26, at the trail's downtown welcome center.

7 4-4. (continued) Two Rivers boat rental in Carrollton has gone out of business and the owner moved away. We will continue to hunt for a canoe and kayak livery. May will be bike month in Madison. Fizz'z is still offering bike rentals, but they only have 7 bikes. Milton-Madison bridge project has announced a construction project to change bicycle plates on the bridge, which have been an obstacle to bike traffic. At least one of the finalists for the Main Street Advantage business plan competition is a recreation business. Continuing to review and offer comments on the comprehensive plan, which includes recommendations relating to riverfront development, including development of a marina district on the east end, and revitalization of the Madison campground and unused marina.

8 4-4. (continued) Providing continued support for the ABC Plan, which has a 6-mile loop that includes a portion along the riverfront.

9 5. BUILDING POSITIVE COMMUNITY W/COLLABORATION & LEADERSHIP 1. Explore consolidation of redundant services offered by the county s jurisdictions. Still exploring 2. Create a leadership academy for Jefferson County. Team is exploring models used in other communities. Have had presentation from Leadership SE Indiana. Team is leaning toward customized model to meet needs of youth and adults. Committee feels that we need additional guidance and will be researching a possible consultant to help. Committee is considering an RFP to have possible organizations propose how they would handle a Leadership Academy in Jefferson County. We want to focus on three areas: Emerging Leaders Executives Students 3. Create an online forum for positive community news. Low priority. 4. Create a volunteer job board. Coordinating with Clearinghouse and Hanover College. Molly Dodge has talked with Hanover College about the community volunteer board. Further discussions are needed on this. Looking for consultant on Leadership Academy.

10 5. Celebrate collaborative successful initiatives annually. Still exploring 6. Develop a statement that establishes a baseline for respect during public discourse Drafted; still determining how best to present Committee decided to begin to share statement with community groups. First on the list: City Council County Council County Commissioners Hanover Town Council Chamber JCIDC 7. Organize the 2016 roundtable on leadership and positivity Low priority. Presented Public Discourse Statement to City Council, where it was defeated by a 5-2 vote. Held special team meeting to discuss strategies for rolling out the statement in the future. Gathering lists of local organizations that approve statement; to date, JCIDC, Chamber, Main Street.

11 6. PROMOTING HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING 1. Explore communities who have succeeded in addressing their drug problems Focus is on local Community Corrections program and treatment train. 2. Initiate a process to recruit an inpatient facility and supporting resources for drug addicted individuals* In process. Still waiting to hear from State Mental Health Department re status of RFI for inpatient treatment at Madison State Hospital. 3. Develop communication tools that highlight the connection between a drug-free lifestyle and gainful employment Still exploring. 4. Create a healthy community initiative* Identified chair who can coordinate a comprehensive initiative. Met with KDH to discuss collaboration. Healthy Communities presentation scheduled for May 24. River Valley Resources Clearinghouse will sponsor Summer Meals for Kids program, providing free lunches to 5 communitybased and 3 summer school sites. (National grant received for this program.) Exploring Get WalkIN program offered by Purdue and possible link with ABC plan.