During last week’s Jasper Chamber of Commerce State of Address event, local branches of government as well as the Greater Jasper School Corporation were represented as leaders spoke of their progress this past year.
Representing the city of Jasper was Mayor Terry Seitz who introduced his presentation as the State of the City 2016.
During his talk Mayor Seitz engaged the public with observations of the unique traits Jasper has such as the Spirit of Jasper train that in 2015 sold over 32-hundred tickets of admission, reflected on as many as 15 different accomplishments, and spoke on the significance of working together in order to guide better results for the future of Jasper.
Mayor Seitz states the factors in which to focus on as seeking talent is essential to fill jobs that are being offered around the community.
Mayor Seitz continues by noting that the benefactor of the entrepreneur growth is the city of Jasper and its people. He also talked about the importance of promoting the city as a better place to live and become “a destination community”.
Included among the goals Mayor Seitz speaks of are the investment of initiatives such as civic engagements such as the Parklands, Next Act’s purchase of the Astra Theatre, the proposed Jasper Cultural Center housing, the arts, and Jasper Public Library all in one location, among others.
All are in progress with the investment of private industries. Since 2012 there has been about 130 million in private dollars invested.
Seitz elaborates on the acknowledgement that without new investments abatement would not be possible and tax increment financing would not exist. He also spoke on the challenges that Jasper faces and how it’s important to “promote the role of small cities in Indiana’s future”, cities such as Jasper.
Mayor Seitz concluded his presentation by declaring that he did not want to manage the decline of Jasper and that moving forward with current project investments are essential to the quality of life and the city’s future.
