We want your feedback! This page is a space for residents and stakeholders to share ideas, ask questions, and provide constructive input on the update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Please read the background information and have your say in the space at the bottom of the page. We welcome your input!
The City of Jasper has a unique economy, balancing its Main Street commercial district of small businesses with its legacy manufacturing and industrial sectors. Continuing the City’s economic success will be critical to ensuring a prosperous and vibrant future for the community. This success requires not only supporting and growing the City’s businesses but also guaranteeing an abundant workforce with aligned skills to meet businesses’ needs. By investing in both the community and its workers, Jasper can bring more businesses to the city, help its current industries position for the future, expand the success of Main Street, and provide meaningful employment opportunities for Jasper residents.
Knowing that there is a wide range of views on Workforce and Economic Development, we want to hear your comments about the future of Jasper, Indiana.
For more information about the Jasper Comprehensive Plan Project, please contact:
Josh Gunselman
Director Community Development / Planning
City of Jasper
Jasper City Hall
610 Main Street
Jasper, IN 47547-0029
[email protected]
Courtney Powell, AICP
Urban and Community Planning Manager
WGI, Inc.
1201 Wilson Boulevard, 27th Floor
Arlington, VA 22209
571-438-9436
[email protected]
David Beurle
CEO, Future iQ
P.O. Box 24687
Minneapolis, MN 55424
612-757-9190
[email protected]
Future iQ® provides customized research and planning services to governments, communities, corporations and industry groups. Please contact us to discuss our services.
5 Comments
Thank you for your participation in the City of Jasper Comprehensive Plan! We look forward to your input and the discussion to follow on how we can make the Workforce and Economic Development Pillar representative of the community’s vision of the future.
I think the survey from residents sums it up. One point I would like to make is we have done a great job making downtown attractive. We have not done a good job with making more parking or a way to get a ride to down town easier. Also if you go to a larger community the stores are open late and you see younger people more out and about. It is good to have local owners downtown but we need to have more activity at night down town. We also seem to be getting more businesses not necessarily retail downtown. Don’t make downtown a 9-5. Heart of Jasper has done well to promote, however you cant have an event every night happening. It must be natural with Retail stores open. Even if it is till 8 or 9:00. The negative side would be the cost for the local business to do so. Maybe start to open later in mornings say 10? That way the businesses could stay open later. Also I have noticed the prices in some of those stores is extremely high for the average person here in Jasper. That is why they go to the north end.
There are a lot of articles and research that has been done to understand adding roads and highways don’t drive economic growth. It is quality of place and quality of life. Attracting young, professional talent is about having and promoting the quality of place Jasper is. When it comes to attracting new businesses, Jasper needs to focus on innovated, upstart businesses that supports what has been identified as upcoming growth industries like advanced manufacturing and technology and others. Jasper should also focus on strengthening legacy businesses that have been pillars of our community and its growth. Companies like JSI, Indiana Furniture and others.
To assist our legacy industries in attracting the talent needed to keep our economic flywheel spinning, we’ll need to continue to develop the afternoon communal activities. Rather than solely expecting small downtown retailers to drive business and cover the overhead costs of nightlife, we could create more communal, programmable outdoor spaces, such as a downtown amphitheater, more live music opportunities, or a central gathering hub. Creating natural venues for PM community activities helps with our evening pulse. This is ideally a quality-of-place magnet for young families, and it supports our local economy without putting the entire burden on small businesses.
Jasper already has some great amenities in this respect. Vincennes University Jasper Indiana is already one such hub. It also provides links to advanced skills beyond the county. Good schools already exist. A suggestion might include an expanded ride share.