On today's show I sat down with Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, and Bargersville Town Council President Andrew Greenwood about how their fast-growing central Indiana communities gained national attention and why they formed the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority (CIRDA) to collaborate across 32 municipalities representing about 40% of Indiana's GDP.
They discuss balancing competition and cooperation on issues like economic identity, arts and culture, public safety and gun crime coordination, infrastructure, and fiscal pressures including property tax reforms and rising costs.
Another major focus is data centers, with CIRDA convening utilities, developers, and local officials to establish facts, guardrails, and a regional plan. They also cover housing challenges, preserving community identity amid rapid growth, attracting talent nationally and globally, and advice for aspiring public servants to show up, learn, and pursue long-term vision.
If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.
You are going to learn about:
Why the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority was Formed
The Balancing Act of Fast-Growing Communities
CIRDA's Role in Data Center Development
Thank you to our partners:
Hope Plumbing
Kirklin
Check out these great clips from the show:
00:00 Guests Introduction: Chris Jensen, Scott Fadness, Andrew Greenwood, CIRDA
01:24 Community Origins and Growth
03:54 Noblesville Pride and Highlights
05:09 Why Regional Collaboration Matters
07:28 Compete vs Cooperate
