Alignment Southern Indiana | Planning Meeting Notes | April 17, 2017
Executive Summary
On April 17, 2017, over 50 leaders from Clark, Floyd Harrison, Scott, and Washington Counties came together
to build greater alignment for the future of the region. A small planning group had been working with
Alignment USA out of Nashville Tennessee to create Alignment Southern Indiana. The day’s intent was to
educate participants of what work had been done to date along with information on the Alignment tools and
processes and to begin to begin to create a shared vision for the region. It was understood that this was the
first of two- days of meetings and the work done in April would set the stage for the meeting on May 23 rd.
The group heard presentations by Pam Ottersbach, Metro United Way; Linda Speed, President & CEO
Community Foundation of Southern Indiana; Dr. Melissa Fry, Director of Applied Research and Education
Center and Assistant Professor of Sociology, Indiana University Southeast; and Heather Chalos from Alignment
USA.
The group was asked to identify what questions needed to be answered through this process. The questions
identified centered around focus, engagement, leadership, and funding. A general sentiment was to ensure
that initiatives/people didn’t operate in silos and that the work spanned all counties in the region.
Through a consensus process the group adapted and answered the following question:
What needs to be in place for us to be successful as a Region?
The group identified the following elements with the arching them of sustained economic growth, ensuring
place and quality of life, and that the services delivered would match each county’s needs.
 Unified and Focused Leadership
 Sustainable Employment and Career Opportunities
 Accessible and Comprehensive Behavioral Health and Wellness Resources
 Diverse, Quality Transportation Options for All Income Levels
 Comprehensive Regional Infrastructure Plan
 High Quality Educational Attainment Cradle Through Careers
 Diverse, Quality Housing Options for All Income Levels
Following that work, the group looked at each element in light of what needed to be strengthened or
expanded, built or explored. Based on that information the participants identified the priorities on which to
focus over the next 2-3 years as:
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Unified and Focused Leadership
High Quality Educational Attainment Cradle thru Careers
Sustainable Employment and Career Opportunities
Accessible and Comprehensive Behavioral Health and Wellness Resources
Session Notes
Questions we must address through this process:
How do we package Alignment so people understand and are inspired?
What is the ROI and how to measure?
What are our rules of engagement?
What are our areas of focus?
How do we avoid duplication?
Who/How – leadership?
How to sustain funding and volunteer engagement?
How to get and retain the right people?
What are strategies for working across municipalities and county lines?
How are schools outcomes aligned with community expectations?
How to address entry positions while growing attainment rate?
What are the prior ties within funding?
How can this go beyond education?
What are next steps?
How to avoid silos?
Alignment Southern Indiana | Planning Meeting Notes | April 17, 2017
What needs to be in place for us to be successful as a Region?
Sustained Economic Growth, Place and Quality of Life
Where services delivered match each county’s needs.
Unified and
Focused
Leadership
Leadership
addressing
problems and
getting things
done
Inter-local
agreements
across local
government
units
Strong and
trusted
community
organizations
Support and
involvement
from community
leaders
Commitment
and
accountability to
shared visions
Capable staff and
sustainable
funding
Engaged and
collaborative
elected officials
Clear messaging
around shared
goals
Gather right
people to the
table
Unified and
focused
leadership
Coordinated and
focused
leadership
Focus on what
could be vision
Sustainable
Employment
and Career
Opportunities
Living wage
jobs and skill
up
opportunities
Established
businesses to
support living
wage
Living wage
jobs
High wage/high
demand jobs
Talent
development
and attraction
Accessible and
Comprehensive
Behavioral
Health and
Wellness
Resources
Quality
affordable
substance –
abuse
intervention
Prevention,
intervention
treatment for
substance abuse
Increase
support for
mental health
services
Tackle
substance abuse
and mental
health issues
Culture of
health and
wellness
Diverse, Quality
Transportation
Options for All
Income Levels
Comprehensive
Regional
Infrastructure
Plan
High Quality
Educational
Attainment
Cradle Through
Careers
Diverse, Quality
Housing
Options for All
Income Levels
Affordable
convenient
public
transportation
Infrastructure
capable of
supporting new
business
Quality/
affordable preschool and
childcare
Promote
development of
affordable
housing
Better
transportation
options
Developed and
enhanced all
utility
infrastructure
High quality,
affordable, early
care and
education
Available
market rate
housing for all
levels
Quality of life
transportation
Clean air and
water
sustainable
development
Expand access
to high-speed
internet
High quality
education from
cradle to career
Affordable
housing
(multiple
options)
Affordable
housing
Adequate
human services
Community
health and
wellness
Alignment Southern Indiana | Planning Meeting Notes | April 17, 2017
Competitive
infrastructure Inet/services
Culture of
educational
attainment and
success
Students
prepared for
college or
career
Early childhood
education
Higher
educational
attainment
Specify regional
educational
goals
Aligned and
ready workforce
Qualified for
jobs of future
Affordable
housing for all
stages of life
Strengthen/Expand
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Comprehensive
Regional
Infrastructure
Plan
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High Quality
Educational
Attainment
Cradle Through
Careers
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Diverse, Quality
Housing Options
for All Income
Levels
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Diverse, Quality
Transportation
Options for All
Income Levels
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Sewer work and upgrade
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Dust off Reg/Cities plan
Roads infrastructure
(BRIDGES) 
School infrastructure
(Facilities) 
Hwy 60 straightened/ expand
(Salem to Sellersburg)
Build
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Education matters SI
Ford NGL/talent development
– not regional needs
expansion
Dual credit
Career pathways academy
model 
Early childhood education
guidance committee – access,
affordable (includes Pre-K) 
Connection to higher
education (access, affordable)
Quality at all levels
Social and emotional support
in the schools
Financial support from
businesses
Municipal housing
authorities
Availability of subsidized
housing 
Comprehensive in-fill
strategy
Resources for displaced
residents (Charlestown) 
Permanent supportive
housing for those who need
more support services
Update comprehensive
plan(s)
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TARC North, East, West
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Rural transit – regional 
Knowledge and utilization of
current options 
Bike routes 
Medical transportation 
Sidewalks 
Buy-in of county government
for rural transportation 
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Regional access – I-net (high
speed) 
Cell towers
Waster water treatment and
sewer collection 
Plant trees in Floyd County –
plan for sustainable
replacement in all counties as
they develop. (urban areas in
the region) 
One-stop employment and
training system (new law) 
Level 4 path to quality at River
Ridge?
Parent involvement
Post-career development
programs in all counties
Partnerships with employers
Defined goals – graduation
rates, etc.
Explore
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More housing options in all
price ranges 
Diversify public housing 
Comprehensive regional
housing assessment 
More temporary housing
(help families in need) 
Sober-living housing 
Zoning laws 
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Alignment Southern Indiana | Planning Meeting Notes | April 17, 2017
Regional ride shares 
Sidewalks
Culture that appreciates
transportation alternatives!!
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Routes to employment and
education growth areas 
Uber in all counties (or
alternatives) 
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Water sources/quality –
regional water authority 
Quality of piping 
Identify failing infrastructure –
forecasting 
IG? Community(ies) 
Regional plan for future
infrastructure needs – water,
sewer, gas, cable 
Wilden Co. roads
Funding for schools
Unified assessment tool
Unified pre-K curriculum
Engaging baby boomers in
volunteer opportunities
‘Degrees work’ – in all
counties
Explore transportation for
students access to programs
Explore opportunities for
middle income
Provide quality childcare and
out-of-school programs
Better partnerships amount
school corporations
Strengthen/create
neighborhood association 
Private investment
opportunities 
Mixed-income developments

Rehab of exiting facilities 
Changing “NIMBY” mentality

More work with nonprofit
developers to meet lowincome needs/mixed income
development
Apartment location options
Regional Housing Study to
industry needs in the market
Car sharing
Regional air travel
Direct routes out of Louisville
airport
Explore
Ferries
Light rail from rural centers to
workforce centers 
The new “outer belt”
Madison, Henryville Corridor
Strengthen/Expand
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Sustainable
Employment and
Career
Opportunities
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Accessible and
Comprehensive
Behavioral
Health and
Wellness
Resources
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Years of experience  college
credit
Reach out to local business
clubs
Manufacturing opportunities
– all counties and other
businesses in all counties
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Training and educational 
Employment centers (River
Ridge)
Career placement services 
Internships (paid) co-ops
Career
development/management/
company ownership 
Entrepreneurship
Apprenticeship (career
change)
Preventative
Health care and counseling
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Early intervention
Increase access – volume of
options
Recruiting healthcare
professionals 
Access to fresh local produce
Faith-based partnerships
Incentivize wellness programs
Build
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Unified Focus
and Leadership
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Elected officials/involvement
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Buy-in from people in region
(“average citizen)
Regional leadership
Education and business
partnerships
Partnerships with rural
counties 
Public and private
partnerships
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Mental health counseling
(esp. pediatric) 
Behavioral health/SA
treatment and beds 
Community-based options 
Awareness of drug and
alcohol issues and
smoking/tobacco use ecigarettes (for non-users) drug use on whole family unit

Social skills character
education
More recreational
opportunities (facilities and
programming)
Elected officials engage
(including school
board)/training 
Stronger partnerships with
elected officials and other
community leaders 
Commitment to shared
regional goals 
Trust 
Advocacy/communication
Leader must have strong
network 
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What are our Priorities for the next 2-3 Years:
 Unified and Focused Leadership
 High Quality Educational Attainment Cradle thru Careers
 Sustainable Employment and Career Opportunities
 Accessible and Comprehensive Behavioral Health and Wellness Resources
Alignment Southern Indiana | Planning Meeting Notes | April 17, 2017
Explore
Infrastructure (rural areas) 
Employment and education
partnerships 
Certification
opportunities/EMSI
Sector strategies
Virtual training (after internet
expansion)
Employment options for those
with criminal records
(veterans)
Employee tuition
reimbursement 
Prior learning assessment
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Economic incentives 
Student incentives to return
to region after college 
Coding/technology
clubs/training
Help with navigating health
care
How to get more providers
and behavioral health
practitioners 
More nonprofit engagement

Funding 
Forums – communication
options/plan 
Regional leadership
development program
Multi-county government
coalition – region!!
Participants
Brad Deaton, City of Scottsburg
Anita Campbell-Walker, Scott County EDC
Bill Graham, Scott County EDC
Alan Taylor, Prosser
Andy Fraizer, Prosperity Indiana
Jill Saegesser, River Hills EDD & RPC
Darrell Voelker, Harrison County EDC
Jerry Finn, Horseshoe Foundation FC
Bob McIntosh, Volunteer Metro United
James Yeager, Fred Smith Store Fixtures
Dusty Rhodes, Fred Smith Store Fixtures
Justin Suer, IvyTech CC
Pat Harrison, Pat Harrison Enterprises
Teresa Bottorff-Perkins, Greater Clark
School Board
Andy Melin, Greater Clark
Julie Moorman, Communities in Schools of
Clark County
Joy Brinson, Wash. Co./St. Vincent Hospital
David Terrell, ICI/BSU
Lynn Reed, Salem Com. Schools
Charlie Crawford, Harrison County
Commissioner
Barbara Middleton, Harrison County
Community Foundation
Kenny Saulman, Harrison County
Commissioner
Donnie Hussung, Harrison County Council
Dan Lowe, Blue River Services
Mark Eastridge, South Harrison
Jennie Capelle, South Harrison Schools and
Harrison County Council
Lisa Huber, Duke Energy
Melissa Fry, IU Southeast
Pam Ossersback, MOW
Crystal Gunther, Community Foundation of
Southern Indiana
Linda Speed, Community Foundation of
Southern Indiana
Gloria J. Murray, IU Southeast
Lance Richards, North Harrison Schools
Steve Gilliland, NC Community Foundation
Robert Johnson, Education Matters
Southern IN
Rita Shourds, Volunteer
Paul Holba, One Southern Indiana
Alignment Southern Indiana | Planning Meeting Notes | April 17, 2017
Ron McKuhick, Workone Southern Indiana
Wendy Dant Chesser, One Southern IN
Chad M Schenck, West Clark Community
Schools
Jere Bridgewater, Scott County Partnership
Mark Eddy, Leadership Southern IN
Chris Garten, Scott County Chamber of
Commerce
Chuck Rose, Scott County School Dist. 2
Marc Slaton, Scott County School Dist. 2
Jaime Toppe, Scott County Community
Foundation
Stacey Nance, Big Brothers Big Sisters
Haley James, TSWDG
Tara Kritzer, Wash Co. Chamber
June Huggins, Indiana University SE
Judy Johnson, WCCF
Lindsey Wade-Swift, WCCF
Jeff Shireman, Shireman Construction
Charlie Smith, BDAS