HOO HOO HOO HEDC studies plenty of film at state economic development conference in Bloomington

The Indiana Economic Development Association Spring Conference was in the land of the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship-winning Indiana University Hoosiers. The opening speakers included Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson, IU Bloomington Chancellor David Reingold, and IU Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Operating Officer Stephen Harper, who touched on IU Head Football Coach Curt Cignetti’s remarkable ability to recognize talent and position it in a way that drives beneficial results. And while perfect records may not be able to exist in the world of economic development deals, it was difficult not to be inspired by that level of strategy while hearing from the presenters and panelists on April 30th and May 1st.

It was also difficult not to be inspired by the HEDC team members recruited by the IEDA to share their expertise with the audience of over 100 members in the growing association. Runnebohm Construction President Chris King and Rural Strategies Group Founder Jonathan Lawler joined Indianapolis City-County Council Member Joshua Bain and Faegre Drinker Counsel Mindy Westrick Brown to kick off the conference’s first panel with a discussion on data centers moderated by Indiana Economic Development Corporation President Josh Richardson. The leaders emphasized the importance of transparency and trust as well as a need for developers to be willing to meet with the communities in which they wish to develop.

They noted how the model for impactful economic development projects of the past has flipped for data centers and now calls for communicating the benefits of a project before addressing matters like zoning and incentives. Panelists pointed out many of those benefits, like the astronomical assessed value a data center can add to a community and referred to them as lifelines for rural America at a time when the ever-increasing efficiency of farming has contributed to a loss of farmland. Negotiable benefits can drive creative outcomes, they also said.

The experts recognized that such projects don’t create a lot of jobs, but acknowledged the lack of traffic and road impact that also results in as well as the construction jobs created over a span of multiple years. Data centers create infrastructure necessary for America’s future, they continued, adding the developments also spark business ecosystems around them serving their ongoing needs, from facility maintenance to landscaping.

Speakers discussed how every project, operator, land parcel, and other factors are different when it comes to any data center endeavor and emphasized the importance of digging into the fact-specific parts of each proposal.

The conference also shed light on the federal Opportunity Zone incentive thanks to two leaders who found success with the program in Brookville, Indiana. A panel of government, development, and strategy officials shared practical lessons on what developers look for and how communities can position themselves for successful projects. The event came full circle back to higher education with a lineup of leaders discussing how universities play a key role in connecting research, talent, and industry needs by delving into how Indiana University is partnering with organizations like Cook Medical and NSWC Crane through IU LAB and other research assets to address industry challenges, support workforce development, and advance innovation across Indiana.

All told, the conference was the perfect pre-game locker room speech for motivating the HEDC to continue working hard for wins that make Hancock County the champion it is for businesses and residents.

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Pictured above: HEDC member Victoria Ross-Frost of the Indiana Municipal Power Agency introduces a panel at the Indiana Economic Development Association 2026 Spring Conference featuring HEDC member Jonathan Lawler of Rural Strategies Group, seated far right; HEDC member Chris King of Runnebohm Construction, seated center; and  Indianapolis City-County Council Member Joshua Bain as Indiana Economic Development Corporation President Josh Richardson prepares to moderate.