Gov. Mike Pence signs House Bill 1001.

GOSHEN — Indiana Governor Mike Pence chose a historic theater in downtown Goshen as a symbolic backdrop for the ceremonial signing of House Bill 1001 into law. The new law allocates full, state-matching funds of $42 million each for three Indiana regional development plans as part of the Indiana Regional Cities Initiative.

The town of Goshen is one of 22 cities and towns in Elkhart, Marshall and St. Joseph counties that formed the Regional Cities of Northern Indiana in late 2014 to compete with seven other regions in the State of Indiana for one of the $42 million grants. The Regional Cities of Northern Indiana was awarded one of those grants in December 2015.

“Gov. Pence, thank you for the opportunity you’ve created through your tireless leadership in developing the Regional Cities Initiative,” commented Jim McKee, president of the Goshen City Council as he introduced the Governor. “On behalf of the elected officials, chamber leaders, business and community leaders here today, I’m pleased to welcome the Governor to the Regional Cities of Northern Indiana.”

“North Central Indiana’s plan alone includes 39 regional development projects with total state, private and local investment expected to exceed $703 million,” said Pence before signing the bill. “Through the Innovate Indiana plan, North Central Indiana will transform its region through world-class higher education, community partnerships and superior connectivity ”

“I want to remind everyone in this room that today is not the end of the story,” added John DeSalle, who serves as one of five board members on the Regional Development Authority that was formed to guide the strategic plan developed by the Regional Cities of Northern Indiana. “It’s just the beginning. Today, we start doing things that can only be done by working together as a region; a region without artificial boundaries.”