Columbus hosts statewide 'Design Excellence' summit in October

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Since 2021, the State of Indiana and Lilly Endowment Inc. have committed $1.25 billion to local quality of place through the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI), and communities have matched it with local and private dollars.

Recently, Lilly Endowment allocated nearly $400 million more for a statewide Community Parks Initiative, with planning grants now open to invited cities and towns.

Communities across Indiana are asking the same question: which of these investments will still be paying off in 2036, and what makes the difference? Over three days, five Indiana communities will come to Columbus to start answering it together.

The Landmark Columbus Foundation will host "Prove It: A National Summit on Design Excellence as Civic Practice" from October 8-10 at The Commons in Columbus.

This event addresses a critical question for communities that have benefited from the $1.25 billion READI initiative and recent Community Parks funding: which investments will yield lasting cultural and economic value by 2036.

Rather than viewing design excellence as a static quality, the summit treats it as a measurable discipline.

Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon will welcome four Indiana cities—Michigan City, Muncie, Rushville, and Terre Haute—which will send delegations led by their mayors to collaborate on live design challenges with national experts and participants from all 15 Indiana READI 2.0 regions.

The event, supported by the City of Columbus and Visit Columbus, Indiana, aims to help communities understand the purpose and beneficiaries of design excellence, ensuring local investments foster long-term impact.