FRENCH LICK – Accelerate Indiana Municipalities announced Columbus as the winner of the 2018 Aim Local Government Collaboration Award for the Columbus railroad overpass project. Columbus received the award during the Aim Annual Awards Luncheon presented by Umbaugh, Wednesday, Oct. 3, at the 2018 Aim Ideas Summit in French Lick.
The City worked with the State of Indiana, Bartholomew County, railroads and local businesses to address a 22 train per day increase across Columbus’s downtown entry points. Looking to avoid an estimated $34.4 Million negative annual impact, the City and its partners proposed and are completing a major $30 Million overpass to alleviate traffic, economic and public safety concerns.
“I say this every day, in order to grow and enhance our state’s quality of place, working together is a must. Local governments have a long history of working together. What I believe makes the Columbus project so special is that it also includes the State of Indiana as a key collaborator. This project will have a meaningful impact on the people of Columbus and Bartholomew County,” said Aim CEO Matt Greller.
In its 42nd year, the Aim Annual Awards program, presented by Umbaugh, recognizes communities and individuals in municipal government for excellence and outstanding achievement. A nine-member panel of qualified judges selected this year’s winners from a competitive field of nominees from around the state.
Conference Facts:
2018 Aim Ideas Summit
October 2-4, 2018
French Lick Resort
Attendance: 800 (pending final registration count)
Further information: www.aimindiana.org
Since the 1890s, Aim, formerly the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, has been an advocate for Indiana municipalities. Aim is the official voice of municipal government in Indiana, with more than 460 cities and towns as members. Our purpose is to foster, promote and advocate for the success of Hoosier municipalities as laboratories of innovation, hubs of talent and the engines driving our state’s economy.