Jasper named Indiana Chamber’s 2018 Community of the Year

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce announced this morning that Jasper has been named its “Community of the Year” for 2018.

The “Community of the Year” award is given annually by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce to a Hoosier community for significant contributions to its local business climate and overall image.

Matrix Integration CEO Brenda Stallings nominated the city for the honor based on the culmination of several projects that are underway or recently finished in the city including The Parklands, the River Centre and the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center. Stallings also serves on the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Board.

She announced the designation at the special press conference held this morning at The Parklands pavilion. “Jasper is where I have lived and started a business 47 years ago,” Stallings said. “I can go on and on with what I love about our city. With the great people and the exciting projects we have going on, what better city to be recognized today.”

This is the first time Jasper has been recognized as the Community of the Year although the city has been considered in the past, according to Indiana Chamber Senior Vice President, Communications and Operations Tom Schuman. Schuman also serves as the editor of the Indiana Chamber’s publication, BizVoice.

“I was working on a story for BizVoice about three years ago,” Schuman explained.

He was researching what cities in the state were hitting above their weight.

“In other words, who was accomplishing more than we might expect for a community of its size,” he said.

Jasper was one of two cities to top the list.

During his remarks, Jasper Mayor Terry Seitz attributed the designation to plans that began six years ago. “Today we are seeing the astonishing results for what I believe is an astonishing community thanks to all of you,” he said motioning to those in attendance.

He touched on several major developments in the public and private sector in the city. An estimated $200 million in investment from both sides in developing new housing options, new public spaces and new businesses in the city.

“New ground sometimes is a little more costly and new ground is also very difficult to go across,” he said regarding some new pursuits and thinking in the city that had occurred since he took office.

In a press release, Seitz said the designation is significant. “To then be named the recipient is a culmination of years of vision, planning and execution by hundreds of people. We are indeed honored.”

In thanking the chamber for the award, Seitz stated the best is yet to come for the city.

Brad Ward, director of community philanthropy for Council of Foundations, who was involved in many of the innovative steps recently undertaken by the community as the director of the Dubois County Community Foundation, also spoke during the press conference.

He challenged the city to continue pursuing innovation socially as well as entrepreneurially. “There are three fundamental challenges brewing in the country that will impact this community,” he explained.

Those challenges include the population shift that is occurring across the country as over the next 30 years minorities are expected to overtake Caucasians as the largest population segment.

“The U.S. dependency on white males to start and grow businesses for new jobs is insufficient for a multicultural society,” Ward said explaining Jasper’s need to be a welcoming community to all cultures to grow.

He also pointed out that business closures are outpacing business startups each year as entrepreneurship has slowed the growth of new business across the country.

Finally, he explained that technology, talent and process must be more evenly distributed across the country for the country to maintain an economic advantage globally. “We must compete primarily on value, not low cost,” he said. “We must compete by being the place where businesses and workers want to relocate and stay because they can be more productive.”

He said that the city had spent a great deal in creating and innovating its spaces and now must connect those spaces to the people. “What can we do to help more people thrive and achieve their dreams whether it’s to start a new business, get a degree or own a home,” he asked.

He explained city leaders need to ensure the community, children and economy adapt to the connected age. He pointed out that Jasper still benefits from the 19th Century agrarian economy as well as the 20th Century industrial economy.

“What many of the recent investments benefit is the 21st Century, the innovation economy,” Ward said. “One that is going to be knowledge-based, tech-driven, globally competitive, entrepreneurial and most importantly, deeply connected to people.”

The award will be presented at the Indiana Chamber’s Annual Dinner in Indianapolis on Nov. 13. A special Community of the Year section is available for Jasper supporters. Author of Hillbilly Elegy, J.D. Vance, is the featured keynote speaker.

Learn more at www.indianachamber.com/jasper.

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