Background


In 2005, the Hoosier Heartland region was awarded one of thirteen Workforce Innovations in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grants from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA). These grants were distributed across the nation. The Hoosier Heartland region consists of fourteen counties – all but two of which form Economic Growth Region 4 (EGR4).

As part of the WIRED project, the grant provided funding for the formation and training of a group of leaders to ensure follow up, continuity and new directions after the Federal WIRED program formally ends. This group which was led by Indiana University Kokomo and ultimately named the Hoosier Heartland Regional Leadership Institute (RLI), continued its important work in 2009 with a series of successful workshops. These workshops provided a structured, collaborative environment in which leaders from across the region – leaders from academia, industry, small business, local government, funding agents and not-for-profits - worked together in teams to identify how the region will move forward with a new regional identity in a meaningful and sustainable way.

The Regional Leadership Institute desired the creation of timely, accurate, relevant and widely-understandable graphic information to assist in the challenges of pursuing their goals, and a document providing a common framework for regional issues. They commissioned this study with the goal of informing themselves and others on crucial aspects of their region that will affect regional strategies identified by the seventy plus Regional Leadership Institute members as they begin their work in terms of regional projects.

Download a full copy of the report: Hoosier Heartland Regional Asset Report

Download a section of the report:

  1. Background
    • The Hoosier Heartland Region
    • The Hoosier Heartland Region at a Glance
  2. The Region in Context
    • International gateways and Trade Corridors
    • The Midwestern Context
    • The Hoosier Heartland Region and the Metropolitan Economy
    • Indiana Economic Growth Regions
  3. Create a Regional Mindset by developing regional leaders, regional stewardship, and a culture of collaboration
    • Commuting Patterns
    • Political Boundaries
    • Public Management
    • Philanthropy and Civic Engagement
  4. Foster a prosperous economy through collaborative efforts and entrepreneurial innovation
    • Accessibility to Major Markets
    • Industry Composition of the Hoosier Heartland Region, 2008
    • Regional Industry Clusters, 2009
    • Regional Occupation Clusters, 2009
    • Major Local Businesses
    • Major Local Employers
    • Intellectual Property and Innovation
    • Federal Investments, 2000-2006
    • Regional Tourism Assets
    • Foreign-Owned Firms, 2008
  5. Advance Livable Communities
    • Regional Infrastructure
    • Regional Transportation
    • Surface Transportation Infrastructure
    • Freight Transportation
    • Aviation Infrastructure
    • Broadband and Optical Fiber Network
    • Healthcare Accessibility
    • Cultural Assets
    • Historic Preservation
  6. Ensure a Sustainable Environment
    • Natural Regions
    • Environmental and Natural Resource Assets, 2009
    • Regional Impervious Surface
    • Regional Land Cover
    • Ethanol and Biodiesel Production
    • Wind Energy Potential and Wind Farms
  7. Strengthen Education and Workforce Development
    • Higher Education
    • K-12 Education
    • Project Lead The Way Initiative
  8. Enhance Diversity and Human capital
    • Population by County
    • Population Density
    • Demographics and Race
  9. Summary and Conclusions