
Ivy Tech’s inclusion in the Medical campus remains a goal of everyone involved. That institution’s funding issue is but a temporary setback. Many are working to ensure Ivy Tech’s partnership in the project that remains integral to the overarching goals for Evansville’s Allied Health Consortium campus. I know I am !
The downtown Evansville, bipartisanly derived site was selected in a fair bidding process. It was done by an impartial review of the IU Board of Trustees and has been now additionally confirmed by the State Legislature. All bids included financial information for each development plan. The IU Board of Trustees examined every element of each proposal. They determined that the Downtown Evansville proposal was fiscally sound, and most in line with IU’s long-term goals for the Evansville Medical campus. The Indiana University Medical School polled students wanted it there too.
There were elements of our proposal that other locations did not offer. The Downtown Evansville campus is the only proposed site that is centrally located to the partner schools and their students. It also affords students and employees of all levels of income easy access to the METS downtown public transit system hub. The downtown site offers a walkable community for students and staff of the Medical center. Restaurants, stores, arts & entertainment, museums, churches of various denominations, the riverfront and more are within easy access by walking or riding a bike. AND the Downtown TIF funds HAVE to be used there ! The three various clinics close by the downtown campus will offer many, varied patients for the all students to see and learn from.
Yes, the campus being located in Downtown Evansville we trust will spur downtown redevelopment and growth. In a few short years, it will grow jobs in construction, retail, food & beverage and other sectors and, of course, the campus jobs. And more people will be living downtown. All of this will increase tax revenue for the City. It was a no brainer for the City of Evansville to make a sizable investment in a Downtown location for the IU Medical Center campus. It’s an investment that will realize a solid return in assured future growth of tax revenue. BUT in the final analysis, it is also the BEST place for all the students to come together and learn, including the great Ivy Tech ones.
H. Dan Adams, MD MBA
Evansville City Council President
Please take time and vote in todays “Readers Poll”. Also we just posted our current TRI-STATE VOICES TV show. This weeks guests are Courier and Press political reporter Zack Evans and Channel 25 reporter Jordan Vandenberge discussing the primary election results. This is a must view program.
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