Empowering the Region! – Exploring the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority (CIRDA)
Join ICR on June 13 for the first event to be hosted at the new Fishers City Hall & Art Center featuring visionary leaders representing the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority (CIRDA). Comprised of municipal executives from our Central Indiana communities, CIRDA was established as an integrative regional entity, aimed at aligning the public sector on key initiatives in Central Indiana, to drive economic development. CIRDA’s efforts to attract investment in the region are focused on talent, quality of place, societal risk factors, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure.
Topics include:
- What is CIRDA?
- How does CIRDA establish top priorities?
- What are the current initiatives?
- What entities does CIRDA regularly engage with?
- Where is CIRDA currently focusing efforts?
- What are the short and long-term goals?
Attendees will be invited to attend a tour of the new facility following the presentation.
Panelists Include:
- Mayor Scott Fadness, Fishers
- Mayor John Stehr, Zionsville
- Mayor Deb Whitfield, Lawrence
- Mayor Chris Jensen, Noblesville
This event will be held Thursday, June 13 at the Fishers City Hall & Art Center, 1 Municipal Dr., Fishers, IN 46038. Registration and networking opens at 7:30 a.m. The program will run from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. ET and include time for Q & A. Don’t miss this informative session. Register Today!
PANELISTS
Mayor Scott Fadness, Fishers
Fishers was named “Best Place to Live in America” by Money Magazine in 2017 and “Community of the Year” by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce in 2016.
Under Scott’s leadership, Fishers has transformed into a lively, successful city that large corporate headquarters, small businesses, families, and people of all ages are proud to call home. His efforts in revitalizing Fishers’ downtown have been especially important in attracting and retaining professional talent from across the country.
Scott’s focus on making Fishers inviting to employers large and small has resulted in new economic development records being set each year since he took office. In the last four years, there have been more than 4,900 new jobs created and $500 million in new private investment. From attracting corporate headquarters to fostering the development of homegrown companies started by entrepreneurs at Launch Fishers, the growth of good-paying jobs in Fishers is significant.
Mayor John Stehr, Zionsville
John Stehr was sworn in as Zionsville’s 4th Mayor on January 1, 2024, but he has been well-known to people in Central Indiana for more than three decades. Before entering politics, John was the lead news anchor for Indianapolis NBC affiliate station WTHR for nearly a quarter-century. He retired from a 42-year broadcast career in 2019 and was inducted into the Indiana Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 2022.
Along with Deputy Mayor Kate Swanson, Mayor Stehr’s administration is focused on keeping our town safe, diversifying our tax base, and on economic development, with an eye toward maintaining our quality of life and preserving our historic areas – from our iconic brick Main Street business district to the proud rural heritage of our friends and neighbors in both Union and Perry Townships.
Mayor Deb Whitfield, Lawrence
Deb and her late husband moved to Lawrence almost 30 years ago and raised their children in Lawrence Township schools. She has worked her entire career for Community Health Network, first as a respiratory therapist and currently as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She has a long a record of expanding services and care to diverse populations across Marion County.
Deb was inspired to run for local office after volunteering for Democratic campaigns during and after the 2016 election. She was elected to the Lawrence Common Council At-Large in 2019 and serves as Chair of the Public Safety Committee.
Deb currently serves as a Board Member at The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Indianapolis and the Fort Benjamin Harrison YMCA. She is also a member of The Links, Inc. and a former Board Member of Martin University.
Deb’s priorities as Mayor include bringing more growth and economic opportunities to Lawrence, working with public safety officials to keep our city safe, and making city spending more equitable so that we can effectively serve all of Lawrence—no matter your neighborhood or income.
Mayor Chris Jensen, Noblesville
Chris Jensen has had the privilege of serving as the 29th Mayor of Noblesville since being elected in 2019. As a proud Miller, Mayor Jensen is honored to serve the community he has called home his entire life.
Prior to serving as Mayor, Jensen served on the Noblesville Common Council and professionally worked in business development for a civil engineering firm where he assisted cities and counties across Indiana with infrastructure development. He earlier served for many years in the administration of former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, where he worked as special assistant to Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman and director of Intergovernmental Affairs.