Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce

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Classroom to the Board
 

Quick facts:

Life science workers earn 2.5 times the average worker salary in central Indiana ~ Battelle Memorial Institute

A $5.6 million investment in a new headquarters will translate into more than an estimated $856 million impact on the economy, financial health and real estate of the nine-county Indianapolis region during the next ten years ~ The Indy Partnership

Building, retaining, and attracting talent to our community and businesses is a key factor for economic growth for our region.

Ensuring students have a strong academic base when finishing high school is critical. Helping more students go to college and/or vocational school and ensuring success once they are there is key to meeting the demands of the changing economy as well as a better life for these individuals. 

Developing talent and a creative culture is vital to the attraction of new businesses to a community. Richard Florida, Professor of Regional Economic Development at Carnegie Mellon University, states, "Talent is a key intermediate variable in attracting high-technology industries and generating higher regional incomes." 

Connecting graduates to existing businesses will assist in keeping talent within our state. The ability to assist individuals achieve at their highest potential from the classroom to the boardroom will determine a community’s future success or failure. Central Indiana's future relies on our ability to have a quality education for all. 

Key Initiatives:


Prepare Students for Success 

The educational system needs to be structured such that students achieve their highest potential, seamlessly from preschool to higher education and/or work.

  • Work with the educational community in implementing Indiana’s standards and the federal “No Child Left Behind” act. 
  • Foster the development of charter schools.
  • Advocate moving the ISTEP exam to the spring.
  • Increase program options to overcome language barriers in the schools.
  • Facilitate efforts to increase the number of high school graduates attending and completing vocational school and/or college.

Assist Central Indiana Educational Systems

Business and education communities must work together to increase the chances for long-term sustainability of reforms. 

  • Utilize the community group GRADES to assist IPS in developing measurable outcomes.
  • Ensure school facility projects are funded equitably while minimizing the property tax burden.
  • Assure the development of more business-education partnerships throughout the region.

Retain Talent

Indianapolis must work to retain and develop talent.

  •  Create opportunities for students and today’s workforce to gain the skills of an entrepreneur.
  • Utilize internships and financial incentives to increase Indiana’s college graduate retention rate.
 

For more information about Education and Workforce Development, contact Business Advocacy Manager for Education, Sarah Nichols Rossier at 317.464.2245.