Focus: Vision 2006.

• Author: Cole, Stacy
• Position: Regional Report: East-Central

Diversification toward technology is the driving force behind Muncie's newest economic-development initiative, Vision 2006. The plan, which began January 1 and runs through December 31, 2006, is intended to make the community more viable as a location for new and current business.

"It's targeting economic growth, bringing in high-tech manufacturing jobs as well as better-paying jobs," says Muncie Mayor Dan Canan.

Vision 2006 is the fourth economic-development initiative in Delaware County since 1984. Vision 2001 saw an influx of new businesses to the community, such as Keihin Aircon North America Inc., a Japan-based assembler of air conditioning units for the Honda Civic and Accord. Employment has grown at the company, which opened in July 2000, from 95 to approximately 170.

The plan has several goals: the expansion and retention of existing businesses; new business attraction and tax base expansion; recruitment of knowledge-based businesses and retention of knowledge-based workers; planning, transportation and infrastructure assistance; population growth and higher wages; and downtown development.

Tom Kinghorn, vice president for business affairs and treasurer of Ball State University, says Vision 2006 has involved all aspects of the community. "We have the support of local foundations, government officials, schools--it's a community-wide initiative," he says.

A major goal of the Vision 2006 plan is to change the impression of Muncie. "Many communities sometimes suffer by their own image of themselves. What we're trying to do is change the image of Muncie and emerge from its traditional past," says Jerry Gassen, president of the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and regional president of Old National Bank.

"It has a strong focus on the attraction and development of technology-related businesses," says Terry Murphy, vice president of economic development with the program. "As we went through our visioning process, we discovered we needed to do a lot better on working with Ball State University and retaining the graduates coming out of the premier programs we have."

Although high-tech businesses are an important focus of Vision 2006, the plan still accounts for the manufacturing industry. "Manufacturing as an overall component of the...