and hubs, but here you can have the cost of living, the safety, the schools and the sense of community that you can’t receive in those communities. We will also beat anybody with our Hoosier hospitality.” GROWTH AND DIVERSIFICATION Economic development is at the forefront of Decatur County’s vision, as Mayor Marsh highlights,“We have unique restaurants, unique shops. We’re home to one of the only Indonesian restaurants in this part of the country. We are home to six Japanese owned companies and a magnitude of other foreign direct investments, and we are also home to Honda of North America’s newest manufacturing facility.That’s our largest employer.” Decatur County is also committed to supporting local businesses and fostering a diverse economy. Brian Robbins, Director of the Economic Development Corporation of Greensburg and Decatur County, shares the county’s strategy of bolstering existing businesses while attracting new investments.“We’re always looking for ways of diversifying while still taking advantage of and taking care of our resources as well,” he notes. A THRIVING DOWNTOWN The community is home to a vibrant downtown district, and revitalization efforts are ongoing.Allison Beck, Executive Director of Main Street Greensburg emphasizes, “We have a lot of historic preservation projects underway, and we’re working really hard to recruit eclectic businesses and really hone into the uniqueness of each of our shops and restaurants.” The organization offers a façade improvement grant to enhance storefronts and help with beautification efforts. Walkability and connectivity are also priorities, as Beck details,“We just activated an alley in partnership with the Decatur County Tourism Office to honor the Bicentennial from 2022. In activating that alley, we’ve made more accessible parking to our downtown.” The county is also investing in streetscaping projects that include pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, decorative lighting, and additional green spaces, improving the resident and visitor experience. 135 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 03 DECATUR COUNTY, IN
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