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Location: Mt. Comfort Corridor, Hancock County, Indiana
Sponsor: Nine Star Connect, Hancock Regional Hospital, Greenfield Banking Company, Hancock County, Town of Cumberland, Town of McCordsville and Town of New Palestine
Subject Area: Corridor Revitalization and Economic Development
Panel Chair: Ed McMahon, Senior Resident Fellow of Sustainable Development, Urban Land Institute, Washington, D.C.
Background and Panel Assignment
The Mt. Comfort Corridor is located one mile east of Indianapolis, in western Hancock County, and is bisected by I-70. The Region is anchored by the limits of the Towns of Cumberland, McCordsville, and New Palestine. Local communities expect the corridor to see significant private investment over the next 5 – 7 years. The anticipated growth will create opportunities as well as inherent challenges. An Advisory Services Panel convened January 13-18, 2019 to provide strategic advice on a variety of issues associated infrastructure investment, economic development, technology, and land use and design.
Key Recommendations
Following a week of briefings, review of past plans and studies, site tours, and community stakeholder interviews, the panel developed a number of strategic recommendations for Mount Comfort Corridor:
- Creating and implementing a coordinated approach to land use, design and infrastructure investment in the corridor;
- Identifying, attracting and retaining talent;
- Removing impediments to development such as railroad crossings and storm water management challenges;
- Leveraging Agricultural Assets such as Ag Tech, Ag-bioscience, Ag Tourism and Farm to Table opportunities;
- Undertake several placemaking opportunities in strategic nodes along the corridor
- Undertake a branding initiative; and,
- Create an organization structure that can successfully implement a multi-jurisdictional vision for the corridor.