ACCOMPLISHMENTS

2025 Action Plan

Near-Term Priority Action Items

Policy Approach Our mantra is simple but powerful: NIA exists to build ongoing engagement with Northern Indiana’s 37 legislators, along with 20+ Northeast Indiana legislators, so that we are ready at a moment’s notice to advocate for opportunities and challenges—whether foreseen or unexpected. We also carefully consider proactive policy issues that impact a sizable portion of our 9-county regional footprint. Importantly, we remain non-partisan, focusing on initiatives that bring tangible benefits to the region.

Boards and Commissions Appointment Approach Since 2022, we’ve partnered with the Governor’s office to research and develop processes aimed at increasing Northern Indiana’s appointments to state boards and commissions. We believe Northern Indiana deserves representation proportionate to Central Indiana, and with a new Governor and staff in office, now is the time to reinvigorate our efforts. We have laid the groundwork and we will drive forward this initiative.

Legislator Engagement Our strategy to engage key legislators includes:

  • Email Communications: Regular updates to ensure our legislative partners are informed and aligned.
  • Receptions: Hosting regional and in-session gatherings to foster connections and dialogue.
  • In-person Meetings: Regular across the region to strengthen relationships and amplify our shared goals.

Our Focus for 2025

NIA will closely monitor the 2025 legislative session, playing both offense and defense. Our goals include:

  • Emerging Opportunities and Threats: Identifying legislative opportunities and safeguarding against threats that affect our region.
  • Governor’s Office Engagement: Restarting our board and commission appointment partnership with the new Governor and pushing for greater transparency in board missions, appointees, and regional diversity.
  • Legislative Support: Gaining the buy-in of our legislators to support our policy approach and partner with us on key initiatives.

State Board and Commission Appointments

Northern Indiana is woefully unrepresented on the highly influential state boards and commissions.  NIA has been given a clear directive from our legislators and members to prioritize this NIA pillar and great progress has been made.

NIA and our legislators have successfully lobbied the Governor’s office to become their go-to organization for identifying, vetting, and submitting candidates to fill open State Board and Commission appointments from our region.  The NIA Board and Commission Committee, Chaired by the South Bend International Airport CEO Mike Daigle, meets with the Governor’s office regularly to identify upcoming board and commission openings.  The committee then reaches out to qualified candidates to gauge their willingness to apply for opening.  

NIA has vetted and submitted numerous Board or Commission candidates to the Governor’s office resulting in a growing number of Northern Indiana candidates being appointed to a state board or commission.  All submitted candidates have been successfully vetted by the Governor’s office and are in the process of being matched for appointment to a board or commission.

Membership Recruitment

NIA has accomplished the key goal of securing the support of our 37 member legislators.  Our current focus is now on growing membership commitments from to our private sector, chambers, economic development and municipal leaders.    

Combining our legislator support with broad based membership from our regions key influencers is critical to the success of the NIA initiative.

Strategic Partnerships

NIA has developed a formal partnership with the Northeast Indiana Region’s 27-member legislative delegation (NIA has a 37-member delegation) to partner with NIA on select legislative initiatives.  This will allow for a combined 50+ legislators (1/3 of the state total) to speak with a single voice in Indianapolis to drive the prosperity of our region.