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Culp Discusses Tourism’s Impact on Economic Development, IEDC’s Innovation Officer’s Move to D.C., and More on Recent INsiders Panel

Jun 07, 2017 KSMLA
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Katie Culp, president of KSM Location Advisors, appeared alongside University of Indianapolis associate professor of finance, Matt Will, and Faegre Baker Daniels’ partner, Murray Clark, on Inside INdiana Business’ recent INsiders panel.

The panel discussed Indiana’s push to capitalize on the growing momentum of summer tourism; the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s chief innovation officer, Ian Steff, moving to Washington, D.C.; the GECOM Corporation investment; and more.

With summer underway, tourism is on the minds of many Hoosiers. And with the Indiana General Assembly recently agreeing to create a tourism study committee, it’s clear this sector is becoming a priority for the state of Indiana even outside of summer travel season. Culp noted tourism assets are essential to attracting the workforce Indiana needs for economic development.

Regarding Steff’s move, Culp stated that while this is a loss of talent for the IEDC, it is a boon for Indiana economic development efforts overall. “New attraction projects to the state are thinking, ‘Not only is Indiana great for all of these other reasons, but if we need federal connections, they’re there through the Pence network.”

Additionally, panelists weighed in on the recent economic development announcement by GECOM Corporation, a Japanese-based corporation, investing $26 million in Greensburg, IN, to supply the Honda and Toyota manufacturing plants.