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Johnson County is a major driver of central Indiana’s economy. In 2019, gross regional product for Johnson County was more than $5.5 billion, with combined regional import and export sales of more than $13 billion. By 2040, the county is expected to have just more than 190,000 residents.
Aspire Economic Development and Chamber Alliance was formed to drive economic development and business success in Johnson County and southern Marion County. Our organization recently released a five-year strategy to position the region for continued economic success.
Designed as a blueprint for collaboration among public, private, not-for-profit and education sectors, the plan offers clear targets to achieve within five years. The first is to attract and develop 50% more occupations in advanced industries in Johnson County by 2025. The second target is to grow the average annual wage 15% or more to the benefit of workers at all income levels.
Foundationally, the plan seeks to align Johnson County’s economic base with the advanced industries super sector. Brookings summarizes advanced industries as those encompassing the nation’s tech sector at its broadest and most consequential. Ranging from manufacturing to energy to high-tech services, advanced industries provide the best opportunity to support innovative, inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
This can be Johnson County’s differentiator, and Aspire’s plan provides a road map to get there.
First, we must drive innovation to boost business and industry development. We must target aspirational industry cluster initiatives and attract advanced industries, along with those industries’ upstream and downstream supply chains.
Next, Johnson County must boost site development for catalyst projects by strengthening our infrastructure, including broadband, roads, water, sewer, electricity and natural gas in strategic sites along commercial connectivity nodes.
We must study and implement plans for transportation and transit corridors, including impacts from Interstate 69 development. We must also provide a forum to help Johnson County’s elected leaders, planning staff and economic developers identify and implement best practices.
Broadband internet access is an essential link to how we live, work and play in the 21st century. The ability to access high-speed internet services defines not only the services that can be delivered to homes and businesses, but also the types of work functions that can be performed.
Johnson County must also embrace and pursue opportunities for enhanced livability and quality of place. We can achieve this goal by collaborating with housing stakeholders to understand issues and develop solutions. We must establish community conversations focused on inclusivity and engagement of other cultures and demographics. We must also encourage small-business development to increase locally owned retail establishments, restaurants and supporting industries.
All of this will complement our targeting of advanced industries.
Johnson County communities—from Bargersville to Whiteland, Franklin to Greenwood—offer a variety of opportunities for both employers and employees to find their best fit. Our prospects for future economic success have never been higher. These opportunities have been identified, and now it’s time to get to work.
In Johnson County, we mean business and will continue to position our region to be a key contributor to central Indiana’s economy.•
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Maslowski is president & CEO of Aspire Economic Development and Chamber Alliance.
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