Student groups from Decatur County and Shelby County were among those that joined the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority for the 2016-17 My Community, My Vision event Wednesday afternoon. Each of the five student groups, with support from graduate students from Ball State University’s School of Urban Planning, presented their community vision plans during a luncheon in downtown Indianapolis.

“The students did an excellent job of identifying opportunities for their communities to invest,” said IHCDA Executive Director Jacob Sipe. “We look forward to supporting these five municipalities as they implement all or portions of these plans in the coming months.”

Last September, local units of government were encouraged to identify high school students in their community to participate in the program. Organizers say that over the past several months, students from Greensburg and Shelbyville worked alongside their city leaders, IHCDA staff and Ball State University faculty and students to outline their ideas for enhancing the development and quality of life in their hometowns.

“Young people should always have a seat at the table when municipalities – both small and large – identify strategies to make their communities better,” said Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch who serves as board chair of IHCDA. “I’m excited to see the plans presented today and visit these communities in the future to see some of the projects become a reality.”

Officials say that the MCMV was developed so that young people in Indiana won’t feel that they have to leave their hometowns in order to achieve their dreams.

Other students taking part in Wednesday’s event were from Crawfordsville, Fort Wayne and Greenfield.