The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana: Advancing Advocacy
CONGRESSMAN BUCSHON VISITS THE CHAMBER
Congressman Bucshon recently joined Chamber members for an informal reception to discuss issues important to Southwest Indiana.
IN THIS ISSUE
ABOUT THE CHAMBER
CALL TO ACTION: PROPOSED DOWNTOWN MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT
CRITICAL INFORMATION

TAKE ACTION!

The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana believes having a vibrant downtown that attracts individuals for housing, employment, and entertainment is essential to the economic development and growth of the Greater Evansville area. The proposed downtown development project including a hotel, apartments, restaurants and retail space will undoubtedly result in increased traffic and investment to Downtown Evansville. We fully support the concept of a public-private partnership that would develop a new hotel complex connecting the Ford Center with The Centre to enhance the viability of downtown. It is projected that more than 100 jobs will be created onsite from this project with 70 net new jobs to Evansville from projected new spending.
On April 29, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. there will be a special informative City Council meeting. The meeting will center on the proposed downtown mixed-use development, including the convention hotel complex, and the expansion of the Indiana University Medical School to Evansville.  We encourage our members to attend this meeting in support of both initiatives.
CALL TO ACTION: 812 AREA CODE CHANGE
CRITICAL INFORMATION

TAKE ACTION!

The 812 area code serving southern and south-central Indiana is low on available numbers and projected to run out in 2015. Short-term solutions, implemented at the state level, have extended 812's life span by nearly a decade longer than expected. The long-term solution will require the introduction of a new area code, using either an "overlay" or a "geographic split."
  
The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana has voted to support the overlay method which will have minimal negative effect on our membership and is the most fair and equitable solution to all parties.
Please join the Chamber in support of the overlay method and send a letter, email, or fax to the OUCC before May 5th and include your full name, mailing address, email address (if applicable) and daytime phone number.
  
Click here for a sample letter.
  
Click here for contact information for the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor.
CALL TO ACTION: SMART CITY 2.0 INITIATIVE
CRITICAL INFORMATION

TAKE ACTION!

The Evansville Smart City 2.0 Initiative is about making investments in the Evansville Water Sewer Utility that will save enough money every year to cover the cost of the debt. It will be financed and guaranteed through the performance contracting model giving Evansville the opportunity to address critical infrastructure needs while creating jobs and fueling our local economy. By statute the savings must pay for the debt service with no rate increase.
We encourage members to attend the City Council meeting on Monday, May 6 at 5:30 p.m. to learn more about this initiative. Members of the Chamber's Government Affairs Committee will also be attending in order to be better informed on the Smart City 2.0 Initiative. The Chamber will consider taking a position on this issue in the coming weeks.
118TH INDIANA GENERAL ASSEMBLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
The Indiana General Assembly could wrap up the 2013 Legislative Session by the end of this week if several remaining contentious issues can be resolved. Much of this year's controversy involved the biennial budget and whether the General Assembly would approve the 10% income tax cut to all Hoosiers as recommended by Governor Pence.
INTERSTATE 69
The Bloomington/Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization voted in April to support including I-69 Section 5 in the Transportation Improvement Program amendment. This means that Indiana Department of Transportation is able to move forward with important improvements to Highway 37 that have been identified by residents of Monroe County.
LOCAL ISSUES THE CHAMBER IS FOCUSING ON INCLUDE:

The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana will be facilitating the University Parkway Expansion Symposium this summer as a way of bringing stakeholders together in extending University Parkway to Interstate 64. The organization remains engaged in discussions regarding the opportunity to bring the Midwest Fertilizer Corporation project to Posey County, Indiana.