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https://nwindianabusiness.com/community/eco...gic-plan/66817/

A new Michigan City Strategic Action Plan paves the way for economic development and socioeconomic opportunities.

The Economic Development Corp. Michigan City, Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch, and business and community leaders worked with the Ascendant Global Consulting team to update the plan.

“Our vision is rooted in our city’s history and current path while not shying away from the challenges and issues our community members face,” said Clarence Hulse, EDCMC executive director, in a press release.

The framework for the plan is based on months of interviews, discussions, roundtables, surveys, analyses and collaboration with a cross-section of the community and businesses.

“The ideas are aggressive and visionary as any strategic plan needs to be in order to truly trigger the growth we are envisioning,” Nelson Deuitch said. “The city’s leadership team is committed to a long-term productive collaboration as we take on implementing this long-term plan for action.”

The Strategic Action Plan pinpoints five pillars: economic inclusion, workforce development, placemaking, storytelling and economic modernization.

“By having arenas to focus on with outlined steps, we are striving to create workable paths for all of these important goals,” said Bill Hackney, EDCMC board president. “You have to see where you are headed in order to find the ideal way to get there.”

The plan includes actionable steps that will serve as a guide to move toward measurable benchmarks. Rodrick Miller of Ascendant Global Consulting Partner said quality strategic planning is a roadmap toward desired changes.

“For community members, a strategic plan done well raises confide