Downtown Indy takes center stage at this year’s State of Downtown

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — It’s an annual gathering of local leaders, local businesses, and investors at this year’s State of Downtown. Local leaders crunch through data and numbers, and their impact on downtown Indianapolis. They highlighted the defining moments of the past year and discussed the future of the city.

Indy has a lot to celebrate. In the past year, the city hosted Taylor Swift’s concert and WNBA All-Star Weekend, among many other events. Taylor Schaffer, president of the newly rebranded Downtown Indy Alliance, said the city continues to expand.

“You’re going to hear us talk about joy tonight,” Schaffer said. “You see that in so many moments of last year. Whether that’s the NBA finals, whether that’s WNBA All-Star, whether that’s the Royal Rumble for the first time. You see it in big events and small ones, too.”

Thursday’s festivities are all about celebration. There was an ice sculpture, food from local restaurants, and local leaders, like Mayor Joe Hogsett, spoke about elevating the city. It was a moment to reflect and also plan for the future. A study by Downtown Indy Alliance found the average downtown Median household income is $81,400 and the average age of a resident is 32 years old. More of that Community Report can be found here.

Entrepreneurs like Lateva Woolfork are excited for opportunities. The SoCo PR founder said, “This is literally being part of a community and diving in and building it more. There’s so much for us to do here, so many ways to lean in, and so much happening. This is the space and time for us to volunteer, connect, and grow Indy.”

Next year, Indy will host the NCAA 2026 Final Four. Not counting the pandemic, the last time the city hosted the Final Four was more than a decade ago. That’s just one of many events next year. As for the city’s perception, the Downtown Indy Alliance study found younger, more diverse residents have a positive perception of Indianapolis as a safe, fun, and convenient place to live, but older retirees held negative perceptions.

Attendees and speakers spoke about making the city a magnet for all people to live, work, and play. Content creator Chandu Prem Lal was awarded because of his artistic take on the city. His photo of the Monument Circle at night received millions of views.

“As someone who is out there taking pictures, I’ve seen the city growing,” Prem Lal said. “I’ve seen improvements. That’s why I see something big for the future of Indy.”

The number one event that sold out the most hotel rooms last year than any other event was the Indianapolis 500.

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