SEYMOUR, Ind. (WDRB) -- Three Indiana cities are part of a national study focused on becoming bigger, more inclusive places to live, work and grow. One of them is Seymour, which seems to be teeming with migration and, as a result, construction.
A recent 10-month study from the Brookings Institute was aimed at helping cities work with their needs and overall economic goals. Seymour is one of three cities — joining Michigan City and Warsaw — part of the long-term strategy for economic growth funded by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. The IEDC said in a news release Tuesday that the plan for Seymour will "help close persistent gaps in economic opportunity and enhance the quality of life for all its residents."
"They decided that doing three cities in the same state would turn out to be a good way for all of us to work together," Seymour Mayor Matt Nicholson said.
The plans include building small businesses, welcoming immigrants, expanding the nature trail system and designing a new master plan for parks and housing options. Brookings, an American research firm that complied analysis for the plan, said Seymour's population has grown rapidly in the last 30 years, due in large part to a 174% increase in Hispanic/Latino populations.
That population boom, among other factors, led city leaders to explore ways to push Seymour forward.
"Our community is about 20% of an immigrant population," Nicholson said. "About 20% of the items that come out of this study are related to immigration."
Brookings published a comprehensive study, for which it conducted focus groups with seven specific groups in Seymour and interviewed seven city leaders. More than 50 people and organizations worked on the study, which particularly focused on immigrants and the impact they have on the surrounding area.
The four main focuses from that feedback included:
- Housing
- The need for more affordable housing, different styles of housing and enough units to keep up with the rising population
- Welcoming New Residents
- The rising number of Hispanic, Japanese and Haitian immigrants in Seymour brings the need for a central location to help those people get vital resources to settle in the area
- Things to Do
- Create new, better family activities after the recent closings of a local movie theater, skating rink and bowling alley
- There is a need for additional recreational and economic opportunities, things employees currently struggle to find, instead spending time at big box stores
- Economy
- Identify and train willing entrepreneurs who want to open small businesses and invest in the area
Seymour, Indiana. Sept. 19, 2023. (WDRB Photo)
Nicholson emphasized the need for a community center that will focus on those dealing with a language barrier to ease the pathway to finding a job and housing. Seven-hundred acres were recently annexed, so space is available.
Brookings' findings were ultimately distilled down to six "Agenda Action Tasks":
- Enhance career pathways and build small businesses
- Welcome new immigrants
- Connect people to work and play
- Improve affordable living options
- Expand housing options for a growing population
- Create new places for recreation and socializing
"Our report shows about 1,700 new housing units, all the way from multi-family to single-family and everything in between," Nicholson said.
Funds for the future study-based developments will come from state, private, local and nonprofit investments.
"We will be able to bring everybody together in one project here and turn it into a very good thing for our community in the long term," Nicholson said.
To read the full plans for Seymour, click here.
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