Third House Forum provides legislative update for northeast Indiana

February 12, 2016

Third House Forum provides legislative update for northeast Indiana

Krista Miller - NBC33

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (NBC33) - More than 100 local business and government leaders Friday heard from members of the Northeast Indiana Legislative Delegation about progress being made at the Statehouse.

Included in the meeting was an update on the Regional Cities Initiative.

Senate Bill 302 secures funding for the three cities chosen in the competition.

Senate President Pro Tem David Long tells us, "It passed the Senate and is now in the hands of the House, and so we havent had too many discussions about it with House leadership, but I know it will be up for discussion in the Ways and Means committee soon. And I anticipate it will pass."

"We know the legislature is working through some difficult decisions about funding three cities, but the original commitment was for 42 million dollars. But the important thing about those 42 million dollars, or if there's a smaller set of dollars for us is that it leverages local government and private investment as well," said John Sampson, President of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership.

Sampson says come spring, the Regional Development Authority will make decisions about where the money will go within northeast Indiana.

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