The Hoosier Crossroads Tour

County 33: Shelby

2012-02-21T16:05:00.001-05:00

The Indiana Main Street program has been helping communities revitalize their downtowns for nearly 30 years. This program has brought billions of dollars of investment, thousands of new jobs and countless rehabilitation, construction and housing projects to communities across the state.

Shelbyville has one of our strongest Main Street programs, and I saw their success firsthand when I visited the Sugar Coated Cakery last week. Shelbyville has received the National Main Street Center’s National Accreditation, the highest designation a Main Street organization can receive. Motivated local leaders have pursued every opportunity to make the greatest, positive impact on Shelbyville. Their work has won competitive grants to fund critical downtown revitalization, including façade improvements and marketing promotions.

Last year, their work to renovate and rebuild their downtown area brought 9 new businesses and 61 new jobs. Other businesses have relocated and expanded downtown; reinvigorating the area to be the hub for business and community it was meant to be. They are benefiting from the wide variety of events Main Street Shelbyville helps put on every year, including an outstanding farmer’s market.

Shelbyville is leading by example, and I hope we will see many more communities follow in their footsteps. Whether that means reinvigorating a stagnant Main Street program or organizing to qualify for the program for the first time, communities have nothing to loose and a vibrant downtown to gain.

County 32: Boone

2012-02-15T14:09:00.000-05:00

The Hoosier Crossroads Tour came to Boone County last week, after nearly eight months of traveling the state, but I have been talking about the good things happening there since the very beginning of my Tour.

A month ago, I released my preliminary findings from the meetings I’ve had with local elected officials. Those meetings always include a frank discussion of how we can move forward on local government efficienies, and it’s impossible to have that conversation without turning to Boone County and specifically to Zionsville.

The Town of Zionsville and two townships were the state’s first local government consolidation, and it was completely voluntary. Local leaders succeeded in consolidating services, eliminating a layer of government and preserving the best possible services for urban and rural areas alike. Although some issues remain, Zionsville’s action is proof that any Hoosier community can take action to make government more efficient and effective. It makes sense that local elected officials statewide are always eager to hear more about Zionsville’s leadership.

I enjoyed witnessing the proactive movement of officials from Advance, Jamestown, Whitestown, Lebanon, Zionsville, and Boone County government.

County 31: Hendricks

2012-02-14T15:39:00.002-05:00

Visiting the elected officials in Hendricks County reminded me of the importance of a seemingly simple, yet often overlooked aspect of governing: long-term planning.

Each time I’ve met with local officials in their counties, I close our meetings by asking about best practices that they use that could be replicated across the state. The Hendricks County folks insisted that their focus on long-term project planning and fiscal planning have set them on a course of success not just now, but for years to come.

This type of forward thinking is something that I’ve supported for years. It was one of the driving forces behind the Stellar Communities program I launched last year. Stellar Communities is a collaboration between several state agencies to fund a comprehensive plan for a given city or town. Two communities – North Vernon and Greencastle – won the funding last year and we have a list of applicants for this year’s round as well.

What Stellar has done is force interested communities to think big and make a plan for long-term needs in roads, housing, and quality of life. Even those communities that applied but missed out on the funding in 2011 told us the exercise of planning ahead has been a positive experience for them.

It appears as though the towns in Hendricks County agree. And as the county continues to grow in population, I hope their vision serves them well.

County 30: Bartholomew

2012-01-31T13:22:00.000-05:00

I have visited Columbus many times as Lt. Governor, and every trip proves the progress they are making.　 I see new businesses growing, new buildings going up, and new life in the downtown area.　 Bartholomew County is second in the state for job growth, and it shows.　 As Lt. Governor I have made jobs announcements with companies like Cummins and so many others bringing high-paying jobs and much-needed investments.

Lt. Gov. Skillman presents the 2010
Hoosier Rising Star to Elizabeth Price.

But something I haven’t talked about much on this blog also makes Bartholomew County stand out: its people. I have had the pleasure of recognizing Bartholomew County residents for nearly every award and recognition I offer in my office.　 I selected Columbus natives Katie Logan (2008) and Elizabeth Price (2010) with the Rising Star Award, recognizing young people for their outstanding efforts to make a difference in their community.　

Another Bartholomew County native, Barb Garton, was honored with a Golden Hoosier Award.　 Barb was an easy choice for the Golden Hoosier.　 Her example of volunteerism and leadership is one I hope we can all follow.

In 2007, I proudly displayed the artwork of Christine Newland in my office.　 Her painting was a winner in my annual Celebration of Hoosier Women Artists competition.　 The 2012 competition is going on now, and　 I’m looking forward to selecting this year’s winners. (link to application)

I was also proud to recognize Shorty Whittington, a giant in the energy and agriculture industries, with one of the first AgriVision Awards.　 He was selected for his leadership in Indiana agriculture, helping make our industry one of the best in the world.　　

Bartholomew County Hoosiers are born leaders.　 I’m proud of the work they are doing to improve their cities and towns, whether that means bringing in new business opportunities or reaching out and being a good neighbor in their communities.　

County 29: Morgan

2012-01-20T16:08:00.000-05:00

I brought my Hoosier Crossroads Tour to Morgan County this week. Waverly welcomed me with typical Hoosier hospitality, and after sitting down and hearing from local officials, I was able to get out and see the work they’re doing to rebuild their community.

Only a handful of counties were not named federal disaster areas after the June 2008 floods. It was a difficult time for Hoosiers, but thanks to a special Community Development Block Grant designated for disaster recovery, many communities have been able to regain lost ground. Waverly is one of those communities.

Lt. Gov. Skillman tours area of Waverly damaged in 2008 floods.

Waverly has taken great strides, buying properties damaged by flooding, and moving toward the ultimate goal of creating a living history park, complete with a picture-perfect turn-of-the-century church and an old blacksmith shop. But local leaders are doing far more than rebuilding and restoring. They are leveraging grant dollars, administered through our Office of Community and Rural Development, to train fire fighters and members of Marion and Morgan County SWAT teams.

With so many structures slated for demolition, Waverly has become the perfect training ground for the National Fire Fighters Association. For the past two years, fire fighters from Indiana and across the country have been coming to Morgan County for critical training they can use to instruct colleagues back home. More than 800 fire fighters have been trained each year at the NFFA annual conference, and in 2012, they will add to that number. The county’s use of in-house labor for demolition and training purposes is now being called a best practice by FEMA.

Waverly has a vision for the future. I was impressed with the outstanding way this small community has taken a disaster and used it to their advantage, even spurring the local economy. I hope their example will inspire others to think strategically about what they can achieve and how they can get the most out of the resources available to them.

County 28: Johnson

2012-01-06T09:33:00.002-05:00

Some of my lowest days as lieutenant governor were in the summer of 2008, when much of Indiana was rocked by severe flooding. I spent days traveling the state to view the damage and thank volunteers who came out to help their neighbors. That year, disasters were declared in 82 of our 92 counties.

Hoosier in the town of Princes Lakes greet the
Lt. Governor as she tours the new dam project.

But as is typical with this administration, we sprung into action, securing millions in disaster relief funding that our state agencies have distributed to help with recovery.

I visited one such project on my stop in Johnson County on January 6. There, in the town of Princes Lakes, I viewed progress on the East Lake Dam. The East Lake Dam is a $1.75 million project that was part of our state’s $25 million investment to for dams and levees that failed during the 2008 storms.

Dams and levees aren’t projects we have to think a lot about in many parts of Indiana, but the importance cannot be overlooked. Complete failure of the East Lake Dam could have caused any number of problems, from bridges being wiped out leaving homeowners stranded, to flooded lift stations releasing sewage into receiving streams. The compromised dam at East Lake had also contributed to a 30% drop in home values in the area.

By steering federal disaster relief funds toward this and other similar projects, we are creating economic activity, and preserving parts of Indiana for decades to come.

Lt. Governor Becky Skillman’s Report on the State of Local Government

2012-01-03T14:07:00.000-05:00

Letter from the Lt. Governor to Indiana legislators.

Dear colleagues:

In July, I announced that I was embarking on a 92-county tour of Indiana that we called the Hoosier Crossroads Tour. As part of this tour, I decided to do something that – as best we could tell – had never been done by a state executive. I planned to sit down with local elected leaders in as many counties as possible for a frank discussion about the state of local government in Indiana.

During the late summer and fall of 2011, I held these meetings in 27 counties. In each county, I took the opportunity to meet with local elected officials in a roundtable brainstorming session to discuss running the business of the city, town, or county. The meetings have been open, honest, and a frank assessment of local governments’ successes and challenges. The following pages contain the results of these discussions and my recommendations, but first a few things to note.

This report is not intended to replace any work done before, including the Kernan-Shepard Report. My work was different due to the face-to-face discussions with local officials. However, the Kernan-Shepard Report recommendations were discussed during the meetings. We also talked about other topics, such as ways state government can eliminate red tape and the locals’ best practices that can be replicated throughout the state.

This document is not intended as an endorsement of everything mentioned by local officials. As a former county official, (decades ago) I agreed with some of the responses reported here and also disagreed with some, and some are not feasible. My recommendations appear on the next page.

Finally, I’d like to thank those who participated in the discussion. With rare exception, Hoosiers are electing thoughtful and caring men and women to local office.

I enjoyed facilitating a conversation about providing services to our mutual constituents. In 2012, I will visit the remaining 65 counties. I hope this type of communication between state and local government continues well into the future.

Read the entire report.

County 27: Elkhart

2011-12-16T11:06:00.002-05:00

There are currently 137 artists who have been accepted into the Indiana Artisan program, and Elkhart County’s two artists share an arts studio in the heart of downtown Elkhart. I recently visited the studio of Kay Westhues and Jake Webster, who both are enriching the community and state with their art.

Kay, a photographer, had on display a series of beautiful photos of rural Indiana. Jake sculpts using wood, stone, and cement. He also creates mixed media paintings and collages. More information about Kay and Jake can be found at www.indianaartisan.org.

I helped create the Indiana Artisan program almost four years ago to provide marketing support, an Internet presence and tourism-focused "Artisan Trails" for our talented Hoosiers. Three Lt. Governor agencies collaborated with the Indiana Arts Commission to develop the Indiana Artisan program. It was so successful; we took it out of government’s hands and made Indiana Artisan a non-profit organization.

Whether you are interested in arts, crafts or specialty food items; chances are there is a local artisan in your community. In fact, my first Hoosier Crossroads Tour visit was to Maplewood Farms, founded by Indiana Artisan Tim Burton who specializes in maplewood syrup made in Jackson County (http://beckyskillman.blogspot.com/2011/07/county-1-jackson.html).

Indiana Artisan makes it easy to buy local and support your fellow Hoosiers.

County 26: Decatur

2011-12-13T09:53:00.002-05:00

We came full circle recently while visiting Decatur County Memorial Hospital (DCMH). Exactly 14 months ago I launched the Indiana Telehealth Network at the hospital. Now the network is well underway at Decatur County’s rural access hospital.

The Telehealth Network is providing better patient care to those living in our rural areas. Doctors at DCMH are using a fiber-optic broadband network to remotely consult in real time with other healthcare professions, who are in other cities, to accurately diagnose and treat patients. For instance DCMH is connected with IU Health and the telestroke network, and now stroke victims are treated faster and more effectively. Also, DCHM is becoming a video conferencing host site next year for the Indiana Rural Health Association.

Lt. Governor Skillman praises officials for their work in bringing the Indiana Telehealth Network to Decatur County. The Telehealth Network is providing better patient care to individuals living in rural areas of Indiana.

There are 57 state-wide facilities – most are critical access hospitals – that are part of the Indiana Telehealth Network. I recently celebrated St. Vincent’s Williamsport Hospital’s completion of its telehealth network in Warren County. Check out the video from the news conference here.

Each critical access hospital that is part of the Indiana Telehealth Network is opening doors for better connectivity throughout their community and state. So it is not just better healthcare that we celebrate – we celebrate better communications for Decatur County and the entire state. Individuals, families and business stand to benefit from the Indiana Telehealth Network.

County 25: Tipton

2011-12-09T11:55:00.001-05:00

I visited Tipton County on a Friday and found that talking to local leaders there was a great way to end the week.

During a brief but informative time in the City of Tipton, I sad down with city, town and county elected leaders to hear about local issues and their perspective on state government. This all comes as my staff and I prepare the report on what we’ve learned from local leaders these past six months. We are compiling the thoughts from the leaders in Tipton County – and the 26 other counties I’ve visited so far on my Hoosier Crossroads Tour – to give a report on the state of local government in Indiana. This report will be available here on the website.

One thing Tipton does well is making the downtown district a welcoming hub for business and community. I was impressed with the number of businesses clustered along Main Street and only wished there had been time in the day’s packed schedule to stop in and see what the local shops were offering for the holidays.

Every community has something special to offer. The saying goes, "If you’ve seen one small town, you’ve seen them all." But I always say, "In Indiana, if you’ve seen one city or town, then you’ve just seen one." Each is different, with its own flavor and unique assets that make you want to stay and get to know the people there.

I learned a lot from the meeting I had. Look for our complete report soon.

County 24: DeKalb

2011-12-06T11:56:00.001-05:00

Lt. Governor Skillman visits Auburn to talk about community and economic development efforts in the area. Auburn received a $5,000 grant for main street improvements from the state.

As I gathered in Auburn with local officials, I couldn’t help but marvel at the downtown district of the city. The historic buildings filled with restaurants and shops glistened as a fresh coat of snow, the first of the season, fell softly upon the roofs.

It would have been a perfect day to visit Santa Claus in his little red house that the locals built or check out the winning gingerbread houses in this year’s contest. These are only a few things that are happening in downtown Auburn. Auburn officials reported on some of the exciting events they put on throughout the year to attract residents and visitors to the area.

They have partnered with several organizations, and are part of the state’s Indiana Main Street program. Recently, we awarded them a $5,000 Downtown Enhancement Grant through the Indiana Main Street program administered by the Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Three projects have been completed thus far, and now there is more opportunity for Hoosiers to invest in a business in the downtown area.

More than 100 communities are part of the Indiana Main Street family, and 181 building rehabilitations have taken place under the program. We know that the heart of a community is the downtown area. It is the hub for government, business, culture and financial activity. We want people to continue to flock to Auburn and other Main Street communities. I know I look forward to my next visit to DeKalb County.

County 23: Wells

2011-11-17T13:52:00.001-05:00

In every county I’ve visited on my Hoosier Crossroads Tour, I’ve asked a simple question to the local elected officials in the county: What are some of your best practices that you can share with the rest of the state?

I’ve gotten many different answers, but my favorites are the ones that have taken up consolidation efforts on their own, like Wells County.

“Consolidation” is sometimes a dirty word to local officials who fear their community might lose its identity. Being from a rural area, I can understand those concerns. But consolidation that our administration has advocated can take many different forms.

The big consolidations – city and county, town and township – make all the headlines, but some counties like Wells are simply consolidating management functions. The local officials there told me some of their best practices include centralized dispatch for emergency services, a centralized planning commission, and a combined health department.

These types of consolidations are the kind that business is very good at and government struggles to do. Yet, they eliminate redundancy, cut bureaucracy, and ultimately save taxpayer dollars. The officials in Wells County assure me that service has not declined just because a county and a town have chosen to work together. That’s the most important thing.

I’m encouraged by those areas that have taken it upon themselves to consolidate some functions. Now, we need to look at how to encourage other counties to do the same.

Providing Better Patient Care in Rural Communities

2011-11-15T14:39:00.000-05:00

Lt. Governor Skillman speaks at St. Vincent Williamsport Hospital about the Indiana Telehealth Network. The Indiana Telehealth Network is providing rural hospitals throughout Indiana access to broadband to improve patient care. Read about the Lt. Governor's visit to Warren County here.

County 22: Brown

2011-11-15T10:13:00.005-05:00

If you ever fall into the trap of thinking that all Indiana counties are the same, think of Brown County.

As someone who has been in every county multiple times, I can tell you that each one is unique.

You’re probably familiar with Brown County due to tourism. The area’s natural beauty and historic districts have made a great local vacation destination for decades. But Brown County is our 12^th least populous county.

Lt. Governor Becky Skillman talks to local Hoosiers at Farm House Cafe and Tea Room Resturant in Beanblossom.

Local elected officials will note that about half of all land in the county is tax-exempt, which can cause many funding problems. Here’s an example: As part of my day in the county, I visited the employees of the Abe Martin Lodge at Brown County State Park, a tax-exempt property. Throughout the year, an extraordinary number of county EMS runs are needed at the state park, and most of those visitors treated are not county residents.

This would be a great example of where some fiscal flexibility could be beneficial. If property taxes are insufficient in some areas, could revenues from innkeeper or food and beverage taxes be used to supplement them? Should local governments be able to transfer between funds without layers of red tape?

It’s an issue we’re looking at and hope to talk more about this coming year.

County 21: LaPorte

2011-11-10T10:03:00.001-05:00

As you probably know by now, a large part of my Hoosier Crossroads Tour is a meeting with local officials, where we talk about how the state and local governments can operate and interact more efficiently. These meetings have been going exceptionally well, and we have lots of good ideas that we hope to implement soon.


Lt. Governor Skillman has lunch with local Hoosiers at Portofino Grill.

Our LaPorte County meeting was one of the smaller meetings we had, and that in part had to do with something else that happened that week: Election Day.

Across the state, Hoosiers living in cities and towns went to the ballot box to elect their local leaders. As we talk about ways to reform local government, it’s important to remember that elections are the one type of reform that’s always on the table.

If you’re happy with the way your city, state, or country is working, keep the incumbent. If you’re in need of a new direction, go with the opponent. Last Tuesday, we saw plenty of each. Voters stood up and said that a government that works is more important than an ideological government.

Either way, we know that the government services will continue almost seamlessly. It’s always nice to know we live in a country with such peaceful transfers of power.

County 20: Orange

2011-11-03T15:14:00.002-04:00

Imagine if you could live in the building where you attended high school. For some Paoli residents that is now a possibility. The old Paoli High School, which was built in 1927 and closed in 1967, has been converted into 22 apartments for low and middle income Hoosiers thanks to Indiana’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).

The charm of the new apartment complex is not the only thing I was impressed by. Some would see the abandoned building as a waste of space; instead local officials and Hoosier Uplands saw the building as a community asset and decided to do something. In addition to the $5.3 million NSP grant, local officials leveraged other funding.

Residents are realizing the quality that was put into this historic landmark. The owners have a long list of applicants who would like to live in the old high school. I’m sure this kind of interest in the area will spark additional investment in the area, which is exactly the kind of revitalization we like to see.

Local and state officials give the Lt. Governor

a tour of the old Paoli High School that was

recently converted into affordable housing.

As I walked through the wide hallways, once teeming with students, I couldn’t help but notice a few relics that were preserved: some old school lockers, class photos, and a blackboard. I also got a chance to admire a few items that were found in a 1927 time capsule that was uncovered during the renovations. Community leaders decided to bury a new time capsule to be opened in 2095. I enjoyed adding a personal letter to the new time capsule. So much has changed in the last 84 years, and I can only imagine what Orange County will look like 84 years from today.

I always enjoy visits back to Orange County – an area I represented during my time in the state senate. In addition to the Paoli project, it was also nice to be at the French Lick Hotel for the Indiana Golf Course Owners Association’s conference. Golf is a great economic driver in Indiana and we are grateful for the prosperity this sport has created. The state’s tourism website – visitindiana.com – features golf get-a-ways. We know that golfers stay longer and spend more money than other tourists. Whether golf is your sport or not, check out www.visitindiana.com for tons of trip ideas.

County 19: Perry

2011-11-02T14:54:00.017-04:00

I’ve visited more than 20 counties so far on my Hoosier Crossroads Tour. Sometimes, I’m concerned that I’ll start seeing the same thing over and over. So far, that hasn’t happened, and I think that’s because each community is unique and continues to add its own creative twist to the story.

I saw improvement through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) in Terre Haute in August (http://beckyskillman.blogspot.com/2011/08/lt-governor-celebrates-terre-hautes.html). They were noteworthy for their speed in acquiring abandoned property and turning into affordable, livable housing. In Perry County, Tell City’s version of NSP was similar, with one of those creative twists.

Lt. Governor Skillman observes high school

students build a house. The students are working

with Habitat for Humanity in building affordable

housing for the community, while also earning

school credit.

Tell City partnered with Habitat for Humanity and Tell City High School building trades to build these new affordable housing units. We all know about the wonderful work Habitat for Humanity does to build housing for those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it. In fact, my staff has participated in Habitat builds the last two years. So involving this non-profit group in the NSP plan was an excellent idea.

In addition to that, Habitat brought students from the nearby school to participate in the build. These students helped build the home for class credit. It’s an innovative way for these youths to learn a real-world skill while helping their friends and neighbors. I had the pleasure of talking to those students and I came away very impressed.

As for me, I’ll continue this statewide adventure and look forward to the next creative twist.

County 18: Warren

2011-10-25T14:46:00.018-04:00

In the Information Age that we live in now, it’s pretty easy for us to take information technology for granted. You’re reading this post on a blog or in an email, and it’s almost second nature.

But for some of the most rural parts of our state, that connectivity has been a long time coming. That’s why I visited St. Vincent’s Hospital in Williamsport to celebrate their inclusion in the Indiana Telehealth Network (ITN).

Lt. Governor Skillman talks with a St. Vincent's
Williamsport doctor about the Indiana
Telehealth Nework.

ITN will connect 60 rural hospitals and health centers in Indiana with fiber broadband. St. Vincent’s Williamsport is a small hospital with only about 10 beds. Connecting them with fiber will allow advances such as real-time video conferencing with specialists. Rather than traveling to another city or state, patients could get a diagnosis right from Williamsport.

Running broadband to the hospital also allows much of Warren County to be connected as well.

I’ve seen throughout this Crossroads Tour that every community has its own challenges. Some 95 percent of Indiana has high-speed internet coverage, so many Hoosiers might be surprised to learn that not all areas are connected. That’s why agencies I oversee – like the Office of Community and Rural Affairs – have a variety of programs to fit each community’s needs.

County 16: Cass

2011-10-19T13:31:00.003-04:00

Hoosiers never cease to inspire me, and 25 teenage boys who earned their GED while behind bars, provided not only inspiration but hope. The teens earned their degrees through Logansport Juvenile Correctional Facility’s Vantage Pointe Learning Center, and I had the pleasure of speaking during their graduation ceremony last week (read what I had to say to them here).

You couldn’t help but feel the emotion in the room. There were tears and smiles from parents, grandparents, and several correctional staff members who all came to show their support for the graduates.

Despite their difficult circumstances, these young men decided to aim higher. Two of the boys passed with honors, scoring at least 620 points on the exam. One even returned for the ceremony even though he had been released – a clear indication that this young man appreciated the staff at the Logansport facility.

Each got the individual attention they needed to succeed from the dedicated team of staff. The staff knew these young men could achieve much more, and just needed the right amount of support and encouragement. The correctional staff has the right philosophy, and truly understands that their work impacts the future of our state.

County 15: Martin

2011-10-14T13:27:00.001-04:00

The Corner Café, located off the main street of Loogootee, is quickly becoming a favorite restaurant among locals. Premium coffee drinks, homemade soups and fresh baked goods are attracting Hoosiers to the Corner Café. And that’s good news for not only the café, but entire city of Loogootee.

The Corner Café is a family-operated business that opened its doors after it found space in a newly renovated building located in the heart of Loogootee. Loogootee is one of eight communities in Indiana that is taking part in the state’s Real Estate Capital Access Program (RECAP). I recently met with local officials at the Corner Café to see their RECAP progress.

The new facades look wonderful, especially in conjunction with another project. When an old theater collapsed, Loogootee used CDBG funds to clear the site and replace it with a small park and parking lot.

Launched in 2007, RECAP offers the eight communities access to funding for façade renovation to encourage the redevelopment of downtown main streets in rural areas. We have seen how a relatively limited amount of renovation dollars encourages private investment. We have seen community pride swell after main street renovations. People want to spend more time on their main street.

Our public and private partners in Loogootee are excelling in RECAP. One of the best stories came from a local business owner who was skeptical about the program. But after she saw the positive impact it had on her city, she decided to join the program for the second phase. This is the type of community support that will lead to even greater community and economic development in Loogootee.

County 14: Clinton

2011-10-12T10:38:00.000-04:00

Lt. Governor Skillman announces with LEP Special Fasteners' executives their plans to create 160 new jobs by 2015 in Frankfort. LEP Special Fasteners, a manufacturer of specialty fasteners, plans to begin hiring next month as they move their operations from Illinois to Frankfort. To learn more click here.

County 13: Ohio

2011-10-06T13:13:00.000-04:00

I traveled to Indiana’s smallest county – Ohio County – earlier this month as part of my Hoosier Crossroads Tour. Ohio County is home to one of our best Real Estate Capital Access Programs (RECAP), in picturesque Rising Sun.

But I want to take a moment to highlight an important part about how Ohio County government operates. On this tour, yes, I’ve been visiting projects the state has partnered in or funded, but I’ve also been meeting with local elected officials to talk about how government works.

I’ve learned a lot, and you’ll be hearing more about results of these conversations soon. In Ohio County, there’s a great example of what we are trying to do. Due to the county’s size (86 square miles and 6,100 residents), the only city and the county government work well together.

In Indiana, we have multiple layers of local government. For years, we’ve been talking about ways to streamline that government so it spends taxpayer money more efficiently.

In Ohio County, the collaboration is everywhere. Folks say “one size fits all” government is not good for our 92 counties. That may be true, but it’s amazing the similarities I see between the officially consolidated government of Marion County (Indianapolis) and Ohio County, where you sometimes can’t tell where county government stops and city government begins.

A lot of counties could learn a thing or two by seeing how far cooperation can take you.

County 12: Whitley

2011-10-04T13:00:00.016-04:00

In Whitley County, I loved seeing the positive things happening thanks to their Real Estate Capital Access Program (RECAP). Three of my agencies – the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority along with the Offices of Tourism and Community and Rural Affairs – launched RECAP in 2007 as a way to encourage the redevelopment of downtown “Main Streets”.

You don’t need me to tell you that Main Streets are often the heart of Indiana communities and each one is as unique as your fingerprint. But over the years, many have suffered from age and apathy. I’ve noticed that deterioration affects the mood of a community and can often contribute to a depressed downtown.

Local leaders often lack the funds necessary to fix these issues, and that’s why we created RECAP. Columbia City’s share of RECAP 2.0 – the second round of the program – was $100,000. Columbia City maximized that contribution by moving it into a Revolving Loan Fund for business loans, and also leveraging an additional $100,000 from their Tax Increment Financing District funds.

I toured the Van Buren building in Whitley County, which will soon house a restaurant, a banquet center, and office space. Those types of improvements to long-abandoned or underutilized buildings can really make a difference for downtowns.

County 11: White

2011-09-15T10:40:00.001-04:00

In this job, I meet and have conversations with a lot of people I’ve never met before. One of the things I ask most often in these situations is, “Are you a native of this area?”

I ask that for several reasons. Sometimes I find a person is from a part of the state I used to represent in the Senate. Sometimes I find a relatively new Hoosier. And it always breaks the ice. But in White County last week, I heard an answer that brought a smile to my face.

One of the leaders in White County’s Hometown Competitiveness program responded to the question by saying she was born and raised in Monticello, but she left after high school. It wasn’t until several years later she decided to return to her hometown.

That’s the type of story that keeps me interested in developing even our most rural cities and towns, and it’s the type of story that makes the Hometown Competitiveness program a success. HTC is about the spirit of continuous improvement for a community. It doesn’t involve a lot of grant dollars to construct buildings or roads like many of our programs do, but it builds leaders and an atmosphere of progress in a community. (Read about another HTC success in Ferdinand, Indiana below).

White County HTC has one of the most successful leadership trainings in the state, helping adults to be strong, civically engaged contributors in the community. They also have programs I’ve never heard of before, like a Youth Chamber, training up the next generation of leaders.

Keeping your hometown competitive in a global economy is very, very difficult. The fact is, not every child will want to stay near where they grew up. But those who do want to stay should never be forced away for lack of opportunity. We’re happy to have partners in White County living that out every day.

County 10: Dubois

2011-09-08T12:08:00.000-04:00

If you blink, you may miss the tiny town of Ferdinand – population 2,157. However, this Dubois County town has been on my radar for years. Local leaders were one of the first Indiana communities to sign-up to be part of a state pilot program, the Indiana Hometown Competitiveness program.

Officials from Ferdinand's Hometown

Competitiveness program give the

Lt. Governor a tour of the new YMCA.

Local residences have created a

community area by building the

new library, YMCA and park in the

same area.

I sat down with the leaders of Ferdinand’s Hometown Competitiveness program in the new library to get an update. Keith Fritz, a talented craftsman whose fine furniture pieces are featured in showrooms across the United States, was one of the first to tell me how the program has changed his business.

Keith started his business in D.C. but realized, with the steep cost of doing business in Washington, he could do better back home in Indiana. He told me how the local bank gave him special financing and how others helped him set up shop in Ferdinand – assistance that is not found in a large city like D.C. he said. At 34-years-old Keith is receiving national recognition for his furniture and is employing the local community.

The Hometown Competitiveness program gives rural communities a comprehensive framework for economic and community development. Ferdinand is focused on not only entrepreneurship but leadership, charitable assets, tourism, youth engagement and population growth – areas of growth the local leadership decided to focus on. Thanks to the dedication of the local leaders, I expect even more growth in Ferdinand in the years to come.

There are more than a dozen communities who are taking part in the Hometown Competitiveness program. To find out more visit, http://www.in.gov/ocra/2351.htm.

County 9: Hancock

2011-09-07T13:19:00.000-04:00

While in Greenfield, I found myself surrounded by pigs and the family of farmers that cares for them. As Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture this is not an unusual day for me. In fact, I enjoyed rolling up my sleeves, getting my hands a little dirty, and experiencing Indiana agriculture with the Hill family.

Lt. Governor Skillman tours one
of the hog barns at the Hill
Family Farm in Greenfield with
one of the Hill children.

Marc and Heather Hill were named Pork Producers of the Year in 2010. These outstanding pork producers are also currently going through our Certified Livestock Producer Program. More than 50 Indiana farmers have completed this voluntary program, and have demonstrated their commitment to the industry’s best practices (environmental practices, animal well-being, food safety, biosecurity, emergency planning and being a good neighbor).

The Hill family is also teaching the fifth generation all that they know about farming. Their three young children are already excited about agriculture (they couldn’t get their youngest little girl away from the pigs). And their son couldn’t wait to show me their new climate-controlled barn. Here is a video of him explaining to me how the water system works.

Read more about the Certified Livestock Producer Program here, http://www.in.gov/isda/2441.htm.

County 8: Allen

2011-09-01T10:39:00.001-04:00

On both the state and national levels, we’ve had debates on how to best create jobs and opportunities. I firmly believe that the government does not create jobs, nor can it create demand where none exists.

But we found when we visited Huntertown, just north of Fort Wayne, that when the demand exists, a little tax incentive can help turn that demand into reality. I visited Cameron Crossing, a new neighborhood by Fort Wayne’s Keller Development, in early September. Finishing touches were being put on the residential units, which ranged from one- to four-bedrooms. A waiting list for these units developed even before the company began advertising available units.

On the first day in-person applications were accepted, Keller staff expected the crowd to be so large that they asked the utility companies to send representatives to sign up new residents while they waited.

To build these units, Keller took advantage of Section 42 Rental Housing Tax Credits. This program, administered by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, simply provides a federal tax incentive to build affordable housing units.

It’s a program that has provided excellent housing opportunities across Indiana. And when the project is in the hands of a good developer like Keller, they are housing opportunities that last. One of their employees said a similar development in Fort Wayne several years ago met some community resistance because of the stigma of “affordable housing”. But decades later, that development and many others are as peaceful and as beautiful as ever.

Cameron Crossing is a good example of the positive projects that can be built when the government simply incentivizes private investment.

Lt. Governor Celebrates Terre Haute’s Neighborhood Revitalization

2011-08-30T16:19:00.002-04:00

TERRE HAUTE – Lt. Governor Becky Skillman congratulated Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett today on making Terre Haute the first community in Indiana to complete work under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). Skillman visited Vigo County today as part of her Hoosier Crossroads Tour.

The city, which was awarded $1,850,000 of NSP funds in May 2009, has completed the construction, acquisition, and demolition of targeted properties in the Central Eastside Neighborhood. Now, 90 percent of the 28 new residential units are occupied.

“This program has made an impact on meeting the housing needs and preventing blight in cities across the state, and none has done it better and faster than Mayor Bennett and the Department of Redevelopment in Terre Haute,” Lt. Governor Becky Skillman said.

Thirty recipients shared more than $78 million of NSP funding. The City of Terre Haute, through its Department of Redevelopment leveraged an additional $1,415,000 in local grant resources and private financing to assist three non-profits with the construction of 28 new residential units (including 4 handicap accessible units). It also allowed the Department of Redevelopment to acquire 23 parcels for land banking to develop new residential units and demolish 36 abandoned/vacant residential structures.

“We’ve successfully filled abandoned properties, stemming the decline in neighboring property values and stabilizing a neighborhood struggling to recover from foreclosures and lack of development,” said Mayor Duke Bennett.

The City’s desired impact and outcome for the Central Eastside Neighborhood was to provide opportunities for low- to moderate-income citizens to live in decent, safe, affordable housing, and develop stronger partnerships with non-profit organizations.

Vigo County was Lt. Governor Skillman’s seventh stop on her Hoosier Crossroads Tour. For updates, visit www.beckyskillman.blogspot.com.

###

County 7: Vigo

2011-08-30T10:48:00.000-04:00

As I walked up the sidewalk to a new home in an old neighborhood in Terre Haute Tuesday, I noticed the sign hanging over the door: “The Sheltons”. Of all the impressive features of the city’s housing efforts, this touched me the most.

Lt. Governor Skillman tours a new housing
development in Terre Haute that received
state funding to create affordable housing
for families.

Terre Haute was one of 21 cities to receive funds from our Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) in May of 2009. These funds were to be used to demolish abandoned and blighted properties and to build new, affordable housing in these struggling neighborhoods.

No city has fared better than Terre Haute at putting these dollars to work quickly and effectively. They cleared away nearly 40 abandoned homes, built 28 new residential units, and banked nearly 20 lots for future development with $1.8 million from the state through NSP and another $1.4 million in other leveraged local funds.

But what I realized as I approached the Shelton residence and their welcome sign is that we are not only building houses, we’re building homes. They are homes for families who might not otherwise be able to afford this American dream.

And these homes are already having a ripple effect. In this older neighborhood, local leaders told me that when they started removing dilapidated structures and building new ones, neighbors started making improvements to their homes on their own. Across the street, one neighbor put new siding on his home to improve its appearance. Others added new roofs, a paint job, or simply cleaned up lawns.

Improving the housing climate in a city has a ripple effect throughout the community. I was pleased to see the progress being made in Terre Haute.

County 6: Posey

2011-08-25T13:04:00.000-04:00

One of the great things about traveling the state is seeing all the unique features of Indiana. We’re a Midwestern state, so it’s often noted that we don’t have mountains or oceans, but that doesn’t mean each community doesn’t have its own flavor.

Officials from Mt. Vernon show the
Lt. Governor a new park on the Ohio River.

The most successful communities are the ones that use their local landscape to their advantage and improve their “quality of place”. Mt. Vernon, in Posey County, offers a great example of that.

While visiting there on Thursday, I saw their work to demolish an old abandoned silo along the Ohio River and turn it into a beautiful riverfront park. The park is just a stone’s throw away from the downtown, and the historic courthouse – where I met with local elected officials earlier in the day – is visible from the new trails.

The project might not have been possible without the state’s Office of Community and Rural Affairs granting the funds to tear down the silo. That’s exactly the type of improvement I had in mind when creating this state agency in 2005.

I mentioned “quality of place” earlier, and some people ask what that means. Well you’ve heard of quality of life, how we measure the well-being of individuals. Quality of place is about the well-being of communities and whether local leaders are getting every ounce of potential out of their corner of Indiana.

Mayor John Tucker of Mt. Vernon shows
Lt. Governor Skillman plans for a community
and economic develoment project.

In Posey County – quite literally a corner of Indiana – I’m happy to report that it’s happening.

County 5: Kosciusko

2011-08-23T16:50:00.000-04:00

The first rule of traveling is flexibility. I learned that lesson yet again during my trip to Kosciusko County, where I met with another group of outstanding local leaders – and a little bad weather.

Missy Cook (left) and Kelly Britton (right) give
the Lt. Governor a tour of Giverny Fitness

Studio in Warsaw.

My afternoon visit to the Louis Dreyfus biodiesel plant unfortunately had to be canceled due to our air travel issues. I was looking forward to seeing this impressive facility again, after speaking at the plant’s grand opening several years ago. It is an important economic driver for Claypool, Kosciusko County and for all of Indiana.

Thanks to the investment of this fine company, our state has of the world’s largest biodiesel and soybean crushing operations – and an ongoing national leadership role in renewable energy.

Things ran according to plan in the morning, however, and I was able to meet with local elected leaders and to tour Giverny Fitness in Warsaw. Giverny completed its main street remodel project with grant dollars from our Office of Community and Rural Affairs, and they have created a three-story fitness center that has given local residents an attractive and useful resource.

Giverny is a great success story in many ways. Not only was the state proud to partner in turning a downtown eyesore into a beautiful space, but the gym is now a thriving business. Two entrepreneurs – women in business, if you will – are creating jobs and helping people live a healthy lifestyle.

I look forward to seeing many more projects like this in the coming months.

I’ll be traveling again soon, so keep checking in for more notes from the road!

County 4: Wayne

2011-08-04T15:40:00.001-04:00

My trip to Wayne County was one of my most successful trips to date. After a record number of local officials showed up for our roundtable discussion, we enjoyed lunch at Little Sheba’s restaurant, and went to the ribbon-cutting for the U.S. 40 upgrade near Earlham College.

Vicki Melek, Cambridge City's library director,

gives Lt. Governor Skillman a tour of the new

library. Library officials received a state grant

to turn an abandoned Chevy facility into a library.

The upgrade of the National Road was a $9 million project funded with Major Moves proceeds. Major Moves, our road-building program funded by the lease of the Indiana Toll Road, celebrated its fifth anniversary this year, and it has been a success by any and all measures.

Yet, as I meet with local officials on the Hoosier Crossroads Tour, a common thread has always come up: the rising costs of infrastructure.

It’s not a surprise. Gas tax revenues, which fund most local road building, have not kept up with need. And, with the exception of Major Moves, the state has not been in the financial position to provide a boost to local coffers for roads and streets.

So consider this the first open thread on my Hoosier Crossroads Tour blog. Is road funding the biggest problem local governments face? And what creative ideas do you have for funding this infrastructure?

County 3: Montgomery County

2011-08-04T15:23:00.001-04:00

My trip to Montgomery County last week reminded me about the importance of bringing every community along in our quest to be the best state for economic growth. Small towns add loads of character to this state, and they were out in full force last week.

Vicki Powers, town clerk-treasurer, gives the

Lt. Governor Skillman a tour of the new Ladoga

fire station. Local officials received a $500,000

grant for the station.

As part of the Hoosier Crossroads Tour, I’ve been having a roundtable discussion with some local elected officials. We invite leaders at the county, city, and town level. But Montgomery County was our best showing of town representation to date.

Officials from Linden (population: 759), Darlington (843), Waynetown (958), and Ladoga (985) were all on hand to share their views on how government can operate more efficiently. As we’ve said in these brainstorming sessions, no idea is too small to matter. And no town is too small to matter. These officials had very real concerns about risings costs of government, including infrastructure, insurance, and inconsistent regulations.

But the towns of Montgomery County have been proactive in responding to those challenges. Their local units of government have won more grant funding than most counties this size, and it’s all because they asked and competed for it. Many communities, surprisingly, don’t take that step. And many more are not as organized and forward-thinking as those in Montgomery County.

I saw one example of that in Ladoga, where the town is building a new fire station with a $500,000 grant I awarded from our Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). It’ll be a big improvement over the one-door station that is presently attached to the town hall. The day we visited, the town council also happened to be opening bids on a new storm water project, also funded through OCRA.

The town of Linden also benefits from employment at the Valero biofuels plant, which employs nearly 100 Montgomery County residents. I toured the plant and enjoyed meeting all the partners in progress.

I can’t wait to see more of these success stories throughout my tour of the state.

County 2: Miami

2011-07-26T09:56:00.004-04:00

On this 92-county adventure, I planned to see a lot of the countryside in rural Indiana. The programs and dollars the state sends out reach everywhere, well beyond city limits and into the fields and farms on country roads.

That said, sometimes I see more of the countryside than I intend to. On my visit to Miami County – the second stop on the Hoosier Crossroads Tour – a wrong turn was to blame.

The day started out great with a local government discussion at the county courthouse in Peru. We happened to visit during the Circus City Festival, meaning many of the downtown streets were closed off for fair rides and fried foods.

After the meeting and lunch at the new Tollhouse Café, I met board members from the Nickel Plate Trail and the contractors who are constructing the trail’s bridge over the Wabash River. INDOT and DNR are helping to fund construction of the Nickel Plate, which will run more than 40 miles from Howard County to Rochester.

Mike Kuepper, president of the Nickel Plate Trail, shows Lt. Governor

Skillman a new trail bridge in Peru. INDOT and DNR are helping to fund

the bridge's construction. The Nickel Plate trail is a 40-mile railtrail

corridor running from Cassville in Howard County to Rochester in

Fulton County.

They gave me an official pair of Nickel Plate Trail socks, which I’ll be sure to wear while walking the trail in the future. I delivered a pair of socks to Governor Mitch as well.

After that, we took the unintentional tour of Miami County cornfields before finally reaching our destination west of Mexico (that’s Mexico, Indiana, to out-of-towners). For the record, I don’t tend to operate on “legislative time”. Sometimes I think the motto of my friends in the General Assembly is: “If you’re not 15 minutes late, you’re 15 minutes early.” But I always pride myself on being punctual, so my apologies to those who were left waiting for us.

At the site, we visited a project involving the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority and the Miami County YMCA. The Y is one of our home energy conservation partners, using grant money every year to weatherize low-income Hoosiers’ homes. This year, however, they also received an additional IHCDA grant to install solar panels on about 20 homes in Miami and Cass counties.

The homeowner we met, whose husband was disabled, will certainly benefit from the lower bills the solar panels will bring. It’s another great example of a state government that reaches everyone.

Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman’s Hoosier Crossroads Schedule for the Week of July 24

2011-07-22T15:45:00.002-04:00

Lt. Governor Skillman will meet with Montgomery and Wayne Counties’ local government officials in the mornings of July 26 and 28, and then will make the following public visits:

Tuesday, July 26, 2011 – Montgomery County

1:30 p.m. – Linden, IN: Lt. Governor Becky Skillman will visit Valero Renewables. The bio-refinery annually produces 120 million gallons of denatured ethanol from and 370,000 tons of distillers’ grains co-products.

Valero Renewables, 203 West CR 1100 N., Linden

3:15 p.m. – Ladoga, IN: Lt. Governor Becky Skillman will view progress on Ladoga’s new fire station, which received a $500,000 Community Focus Fund grant from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

Ladoga Fire Station, 121 East Main Street, Ladoga

Thursday, July 28, 2011 – Wayne County

1:00 p.m. – Richmond, IN: Lt. Governor Becky Skillman will join officials from INDOT to celebrate the reconstruction of U.S. 40, a Major Moves project. Upgrades to U.S. 40 include a new center turn lane, a new bridge and new features for pedestrians.

Earlham College’s front lawn, 801 National Road West, Richmond

2:15 p.m. – Cambridge, IN: Lt. Governor Becky Skillman will tour the new Cambridge City Library, which received a $500,000 Community Focus Fund grant from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

Cambridge City Library, 600 West Main Street, Cambridge

County 1: Jackson

2011-07-14T16:17:00.000-04:00

Visiting Jackson County is always like a homecoming for me. Even though I always lived in neighboring Lawrence County, I represented Jackson for 12 years in the Indiana Senate. I’ve walked countless parades and held plenty of Third House meetings in its towns.

Maplewood Farm's Tim Burton shows Lt. Governor

Skillman his process for making syrup.

The local officials I met with in Jackson County are like most leaders throughout the state: passionate about the communities they serve. They were full of good ideas of their own and willing to hear new ones. For example, the city of Seymour’s “robo-trash” trucks require fewer sanitation employees and have cut work comp claims by nearly 95 percent.

After the meeting in Brownstown, we had lunch at Stahl’s Café in Ewing, then headed to Medora to cut the ribbon on the country’s longest covered bridge. Finally, we stopped at Maplewood Farms, where Tim Burton is becoming one of our most successful Indiana Artisans.

A Hoosier from Fortville, Ind., who has been

to every covered bridge in the country, talks to

Lt. Governor Skillman at the Medora Covered Bridge.

Indiana Artisan is a program I started as lieutenant governor to provide marketing support for producers of food or art products. It was so successful; we took it out of government’s hands and made Indiana Artisan a non-profit organization. We had a chance to talk to Tim and meet youth helping out on the farm from Bradford Woods’ leadership camp.

Tim is becoming a local celebrity of sorts. Folks my age will be impressed his syrup was served in Chicago at Oprah’s farewell brunch. The camp kids, however, were more impressed that he recently ate with Lady Gaga’s parents (Mr. and Mrs. Gaga?).

This is exactly the kind of success we planned with our Indiana Artisan program. Governor Mitch always speaks about raising the net disposable income of Hoosiers. When we can help a small business market itself, we make that happen for them and any employees they may choose to hire.

We have artisans all over the state, and I plan to visit many more of them. But I’m glad I got to start it off at Maplewood Farms.

Lt. Governor Skillman Plans for Remainder of Term

2011-07-11T13:59:00.000-04:00

“Hoosier Crossroads Tour” will focus on local government, state programs

INDIANAPOLIS – Lt. Governor Becky Skillman today announced plans for her “Hoosier Crossroads Tour,” a 92-county tour over the next 18 months. The statewide tour kicks off Tuesday in Jackson County and will include working sessions with local government leaders and visits to community projects that were funded by agencies she directs.

“In the last seven years, I have been dedicated to visiting every county and being a voice for all of Indiana. I have seen the needs and helped with initiatives to meet the challenges. This 92-county tour will help formulate the best way to make an even greater economic impact on our communities,” Skillman said.

Beginning tomorrow in Jackson County, Lt. Governor Skillman will meet with local elected officials in a structured discussion. The primary question will be, “How can we work together to better serve Hoosiers?”

The discussion will include possible ways the state can help local units of government deliver services more effectively and efficiently, in addition to ways to boost the local economy. These meetings will occur in approximately 30 counties between now and the end of the calendar year. Lt. Governor Skillman plans to make recommendations to Governor Daniels prior to the 2012 legislative session.

While traveling, Skillman also plans to check on local projects that have received funding from state agencies. Skillman oversees the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, the Office of Energy Development, the Office of Tourism Development, and the State Department of Agriculture. These agencies primarily aid communities through financial investments and other programs.

These agencies have administered more than 1 billion in funding assistance for local projects, such as housing developments, local governments’ capital projects, and energy initiatives.

“We have invested time, effort, and money in communities across the state, and it’s important for me to see firsthand what type of return we are getting on our investment,” Skillman said.

In Jackson County, she will also cut the ribbon on the Medora Covered Bridge, the longest historic covered bridge in the country. This was a partnership between the Indiana Department of Transportation and the Jackson County Commissioners. She will also visit the Tim Burton family of Maplewood Farms. Burton is one of the entrepreneurs named as an Indiana Artisan and growing his business through the program support and branding launched by Skillman.

The complete schedule of counties has not been finalized, but stops in July will include Miami County on July 21, Montgomery County on July 26, and Wayne County on July 28.

Hoosiers can track where the lieutenant governor will be and follow a blog about the tour by visiting www.lg.in.gov.

###

Lt. Governor Becky Skillman oversees the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, the Office of Energy Development, the Office of Tourism Development, and the State Department of Agriculture.

To receive e-mail updates from Lt. Governor Skillman, sign up at http://www.in.gov/lg/subscribe.htm