WIRED

Regional thinking, cooperation and leadership have become increasingly important to communities wishing to further their economic development.  Sagamore Institute, guided by Dr. Scott T. Massey, and the Regional Leadership Institute at IU Kokomo worked together with 14 counties in north Central Indiana to create an integrated, comprehensive regional strategic action plan and to work with senior leaders across the region, especially senior corporate leaders, to integrate their perspectives into the planning and to gain their support for the new regional strategies.  This plan was built on five years of experience working together that the counties have accumulated through a federal WIRED grant.  Sagamore worked with six committees, each dedicated to a particular initiative to produce a coherent, comprehensive regional development strategy.

The project promoted regional cooperation and development in the area by identifying and working with area leaders in business, government, education and nonprofit sectors.  Sagamore consulted with these leaders, soliciting feedback and comments as well as establishing a “steering committee” to help convene groups, initiate studies, and authorize the final report and recommendations.  Sagamore also, through the production of a communications package, kept the leaders informed on the progress and actions of the six task force committees established at the Leadership Summit that addressed the six strategic directions identified in the Summit:

1. Strengthening education and workforce development to enhance 21^st century talent
2. Advancing livable communities through effective infrastructure, transportation systems, and cultural activities
3. Creating a regional mindset by developing regional leaders, regional stewardship and a culture of collaboration
4. Embracing diversity to build human capital and cultivate community
5. Fostering a prosperous economy through collaborative efforts and entrepreneurial innovation
6. Ensuring a sustainable environment

Sagamore assisted the committees with research, facilitated task force meetings, coordinated with Purdue University on mapping regional assets with the development of work plans and strategies, and aided in the writing, editing and revising of a joint draft report and budget in the form of a proposal for the Regional Leadership Institute in September 2009.  Through this effort, Sagamore aimed to help the north Central Indiana region to develop and become more prosperous as a whole.

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Sagamore Institute

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