leveraged grant funding to improve drainage, ensuring that residential and commercial areas remain resilient against heavy rains. In addition, Tipton is focusing on expanding pedestrian infrastructure.The city has completed the second phase of its trail network and is implementing an urban trail connecting downtown to this system. “We’re working on another reconstruction scheduled for 2028, and it will have a 10-foot wide, multiuse path. If we can connect the city through these investments, we’ll have a network people can use to navigate Tipton safely,” Mayor Schmicker explains. The overall goal is to create a safer, more walkable city for residents and visitors by integrating sidewalks, bike paths, and pedestrian-friendly roadways built intentionally to separate pedestrians and vehicles. Walkways and roads aren’t the only things being connected.As remote work becomes more prevalent, the city boasts a fiber-optic network based on investments made by TDS Telecom. However, the city is not stopping there and is actively exploring options to expand public Wi-Fi access in downtown areas, parks, and community hubs, ensuring Tipton remains attractive to residents and visitors to these spaces. “We were able to bring public Wi-Fi to our pool and splash pad for the first time in 2024, and we are actively scoping ways to expand those to other park areas,” stated Mayor Schmicker. Beyond these improvements, Tipton is capitalizing on its prime location and deep agricultural roots. This area of the state already has several notable ag-based companies, such as Corteva, Beck’s Hybrids, Keystone Cooperative, Cargill, Achieva, and Total Seed Production. Mayor Schmicker aims to attract more investments from the agricultural sector into Tipton, fostering support for bio-life sciences, agtech, agricultural production, and other developing areas within the industry. “Agriculture has been a big part of our history and heritage. Now, the question is: how do we embrace 7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 04 TIPTON, IN
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