5 things Hamilton County wants to do better
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What would you change about Carmel? Photo: Justin L. Mack/Axios
Despite all its accolades, Hamilton County has plenty of room for improvement, according to a new report.
Why it matters: With HamCo being a part of the Indianapolis metro, its cities play a major role in the region's reputation for housing, education, jobs, tourism and more.
Driving the news: Hamilton County Community Foundation (HCCF) commissioned a report released in late June assessing community needs and identifying the five areas to improve in — affordable housing, education & training, social services, child care and transportation.
What they're saying: "Our needs assessment highlighted that Hamilton County is really a tale of two counties," Tom Kilian, president of Hamilton County Community Foundation, said in a statement.
- "Our data shows that though many community members are thriving, many are worried about accessing essential services and resources such as affordable housing, dependable childcare and reliable health care."
Zoom in: To address the priorities, focus groups suggested ways HCCF should uplift the community:
- Become more diverse and inclusive — participants said diverse perspectives are needed to address misperceptions about Hamilton County in general, as well as to meet population needs shown by local demographic data.
- Consider the impact — HCCF should address needs that will have a broad impact, not just what's easiest to solve.
- Work together — focus groups stressed that local leaders should promote and support collaboration while showing residents their ideas are being put into action.
Inside the room: Study participants also spoke out about the challenges related to matters like food access, health care, housing and mental wellness in Hamilton County.
- Concerns were raised about potential discrimination, lack of affordable and culturally sensitive services, and the need for better coordination of services across the board.
The fine print: Feedback was solicited through virtual interviews with 16 community leaders conducted in February; in-person focus groups with 90 community stakeholders held that same month; another focus group discussion with the HCCF board; and an online survey sent to "community partners" in March.
- Schunk Moreland Strategies conducted the study.
Zoom out: The report lands as Carmel is already working to improve on multiple fronts.
- Carmel City Council member Jeff Worrell launched a civility campaign at the start of the year to push politeness in his hometown.
- The newly established Carmel Housing Task Force is in the middle of a six-month effort to address housing gaps under the direction of Mayor Sue Finkam.
- The city is also undergoing a rebranding initiative to better understand its reputation and develop a strong city identity.
What's next: HCCF leaders say the data and recommendations in the report will be used to refresh their strategic plan and guide its investment decisions in the community.