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McCracken Says I-69 Will Impact Southwest Indiana Economy

Last updated on Monday, November 12, 2012

(BEDFORD) - Interstate 69 won’t run through Lawrence County, but Gene McCracken, will attend an invitation-only meeting of economic development, business, higher education and local government officials today in Huntingburg to discuss the potential impact of I-69 on the economy of southwest Indiana.

About 60-65 people are expected to attend.

The first long stretch of the highway, from just north of Evansville to U.S. 231 in southern Greene County, is scheduled to open to traffic a week later.

Section 4 of the interstate, which will connect the highway to Ind. 37 just south of Bloomington, is expected to open in late 2014.

McCracken welcomes the new road.

McCracken, executive director of the Lawrence County Executive Growth Council, will be marketing the community to potential businesses, he says it's not direct access by easy access when I-69 opens traffic from Crane To Evansville on Nov. 19.

The transportation pitch is part of a package that McCracken said includes the region's other business benefits, from tax incentives to work force advantages.

The corridor committee has prepared what it calls a "fact-based case for change: Where we can be in 20-25 years if we plan purposefully. That vision will be presented to an invited group of public, higher education and economic development officials Monday in Huntingburg in Dubois County.

State Rep. Sue Ellsperman, former director of the Center for Applied Research at USI and now Indiana lieutenant governor-elect, gives the corridor group an important contact at the Statehouse.

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