recent years, and its leaders are now rethinking how to position the community for a brighter economic future. Just ten months into his role, Mayor Trent Odell speaks plainly about the challenges he inherited.“Honestly, there hasn’t been much progress in terms of growth,” he admits. For years, Rochester operated with what the mayor describes as a “retirement community mentality” that didn’t prioritize expansion or new opportunities. He recalls a major business closing in 2016.“It was never really pursued to replace,” the mayor says. This stagnation, he suggests, was the reason I was elected. The people were ready for a change. The mayor’s recent push for change has required tangible and symbolic actions. “We’ve got a groundbreaking tomorrow,” he says, “something we haven’t experienced in awhile”. In a town where economic development has been on the back burner for so long, even the act of breaking ground feels like a milestone. Mayor Odell’s administration is shifting the mindset of Rochester’s leaders and residents, encouraging them to look beyond the status quo. TURNING THE TIDE According to Michael Ladd, director at Fulton Economic Development, Rochester’s economic prospects are slowly beginning to shift.“If you grow up here, you live here long enough, you lose sight of what’s here,” he says. For him, the town’s unique assets—like Lake Manitou, a historic downtown, and a welcoming atmosphere—are often taken for granted by those who’ve known them their whole lives. Ladd believes Rochester needs a “new set of eyes” to recognize its potential and reimagine its role within the region, especially as nearby communities attract significant investment. The groundwork for that transformation is underway, as local leaders consider an “all-of-the-above approach” to development. A community advocate and professional economic consultant, Charlie Sparks emphasizes that Rochester must prepare itself to compete for regional growth.“We’re seeing billions of dollars of new capital investment in every direction outside of Rochester,” he notes.To ensure Rochester is part of that wave, leaders focus on several key areas: 215 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 12 ROCHESTER, IN
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx