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I am so excited to reflect on the success of the first-ever Northeast Indiana Housing Symposium. With over 200 attendees, including local government leaders, realtors, banks, lenders, builders, employers, and nonprofit economic development leaders, the day was a powerful testament to the collective commitment to addressing housing challenges across our region. It was truly inspiring to see so many key stakeholders—many of whom have been leading the charge on housing solutions for years—come together in one space to forge new paths forward.
The presentation by Charles Marohn, founder of Strong Towns, was particularly inspiring. His vision for incremental, sustainable development resonated with the audience and highlighted the importance of building resilient communities. What inspired me even more was the incredible turnout and the energy in the room. It showed that the desire for real, lasting change in the housing market is not only strong but growing. The fact that so many leaders in various sectors attended, engaged, and collaborated speaks volumes about our region’s readiness to embrace innovative solutions for housing production.
As we look to the future, we must build on this momentum and continue to push boundaries. Marohn shared some really interesting and insightful examples of innovative public financing schemes from communities across the country that are excellent tools for incremental development. Similarly, I am confident that the strategies we’re developing right here in Northeast Indiana for catalyst site development—particularly our bulk purchase strategy—will be a game-changer in its own right.
The Planner on Demand service and Hoosier Homes Plus are central to this transformation. These tools are designed to revolutionize the regional housing production landscape, particularly through a community-centric approach and developing human capital, first and foremost. From strategic site selection and predevelopment processes to bulk purchases of homebuyer housing and master leases for rental homes, these initiatives are paving the way for sustainable, scalable growth.
What truly sets these programs apart is how they integrate local financing tools like Hoosier Homes with strategic investments that harmonize with the unique needs of our communities. For example, the Strategic Development Corporation's (SDC) recent $2 million investment to counteract mortgage volatility is a perfect example of how hyper-local financing can empower buyers at all income levels—first-time buyers, repeat buyers, and everyone in between. This investment will help ensure that rising home prices and lack of capital do not push ready buyers out of homeownership opportunities.
At Club 720 Development Corporation, we believe this hyper-localized, community-driven approach is key to creating a more resilient, equitable housing market. The bulk purchase strategy we are developing will allow local governments and key stakeholders to take control of workforce housing production in ways that maximize the value of each investment, whether through down payment assistance programs, affordable mortgage options, or partnerships with builders using cutting-edge technology, who can produce high-quality homes quickly and affordably.
This symposium was just the beginning. I’m excited about the future of regional housing systems development—not only in Northeast Indiana but beyond. By working together, combining innovative financing strategies with hyper-local solutions, we can create a housing system that serves all residents and supports long-term economic growth.
Thank you to everyone who attended the symposium, engaged in thoughtful discussions, and demonstrated a commitment to positive change. Together, we are building a future where homeownership is within reach for more people, where communities are stronger, and where housing production is driven by the needs of our region.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to roll out these groundbreaking programs, and let's keep the conversation going—because the future of housing starts now.
Heather Presley-Cowen President and CEO, Club 720 Development Corporation
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