Pulaski County Hometown Collaboration Team selects building block

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Published: Wednesday, 27 May 2015 19:15

WINAMAC — The Pulaski County Hometown Collaboration Initiative (HCI) team selected the Placemaking/Primacy of Place™ building block as the next step in the HCI process during a session on May 12 facilitated by Scott Hutcheson of the Purdue Center for Regional Development.

During this session, the HCI coordinating team determined which building block was the most appropriate next step for the community through a strategic process. The team first listed the evidence of need and evidence of support for each of the three building blocks (leadership, economy, and placemaking).

After identifying the evidence, the team performed an exercise to make the case for each of the three HCI building blocks. Lastly, each team member assigned a score for need and another score for support for each building block. The scores were then totaled.

Commenting on the session, Hutcheson noted, “The group gave serious consideration to each of the building blocks, weighing all the evidence from the community survey, the public forum, the data snapshot, and the other strategic plans that have been completed recently. In the end, they settled on placemaking as their next step.”

“It was a really close call between the leadership and placemaking building blocks; in fact, in ranking our options by need, we split the vote evenly,” noted Nathan Origer, executive director of the Pulaski County Community Development Commission. “At the end of the day, we concluded that we would find greater community support for the placemaking block relative to the specific leadership-development programs available, as well as more opportunities for long-term success on that front.”

Placemaking, or Primacy of Place, describes a community’s strategic decision to dedicate resources to improving life experiences for residents, businesses, and visitors. 

After a brief hiatus, the HCI team will reconvene in early August with Sharon Canaday, associate director of Economic and Community Development for Ball State University’s Building Better Communities. Canaday will guide the team as it takes stock of physical assets; explores the integration of the arts, culture and historic preservation into built assets; or focuses on enhancing Pulaski County’s local food system.

Ultimately, each community selected for HCI will participate in a capstone block. During this block, the HCI team will learn ways to keep the team energized and working on longer-term goals.

The team will also plan a shorter-term Pathfinder Project, with financial assistance from The Office of Community and Rural Affairs, which will place Pulaski County on the path toward achieving its goals. It is estimated that by being selected for HCI, Pulaski County will have gained the equivalent of nearly $100,000 in training and technical assistance from state-agency and university professionals. 

The Hometown Collaboration Initiative is sponsored by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and The Office of the Lieutenant Governor, in partnership with the Purdue Center for Regional Development and Ball State University’s Building Better Communities Department.