Greater Lafayette, A Community of Choice

Since 2009, Greater Lafayette’s Community of Choice Committee has been working to initiate a broad-based dialog about the quality of life within Greater Lafayette which moves beyond superficial statements of praise and commendation to defined, specific facts as they exist and as they compare to other comparable communities. The key inquiry we pursued was, “What will it take for Greater Lafayette to be a community of choice for diverse, top talent?” This page features the final plan (first download on your right) plus all the additional reports that were generated during the process.

A word from your consulting team:

This has been a terrific project for many reasons:

The Community of Choice committee was bold in choosing seven peer regions that they knew would create some tension for Greater Lafayette;
The region’s stakeholders, investors, focus group participants, and community have been so welcoming; if every new resident could experience the kind of welcome we received, your reputation for being “open” would soar; and
Working in a region with so much potential is liberating. We believe that Greater Lafayette could become - in the next decade or two - something really special.

What we have learned is that Greater Lafayette is a different city, depending on who you are.

For retirees, Greater Lafayette is a promised land. Retirees are the region’s greatest ambassadors and could continue to be a growing demographic for your region.

Families with young children love West Lafayette because of its strong schools and safe neighborhoods. This is a stable demographic, and will also continue to be important for your region.

But others - students, young professionals, and non-white professionals - see Greater Lafayette differently. They see Purdue as a major asset, but wish that Greater Lafayette could match-up and provide the kind of cultural, social, economic, and community amenities that other Big Ten towns offer.

This is a tremendous opportunity. We have worked in many regions that wish they could have an asset like Purdue. Or Subaru. Or the kind of generosity and grace that springs from long-standing companies like Kirby Risk.

Greater Lafayette has all those things. Now the region needs a map to get from today to tomorrow.

Downloads

Greater Lafayette Final Plan - From Good to Great (PDF, 6 MB)

(Updated Sept. 20, 2012) This is the final plan delivered to Greater Lafayette Commerce on September 17, 2012 by Next Generation Consulting.

Phase 1 Key Findings Summary Report (PDF, 1 MB)

Phase 1A Focus Group Themes (PDF, 470 KB)

Phase 1B: Greater Lafayette Handprint Report (PDF, 1 MB)

What went into Greater Lafayette’s handprint scores? And how did Greater Lafayette compare to Ann Arbor, Madison, Raleigh Durham, Bloomington, and other cities? Read it all here.

Phase 1C Survey Raw Data (Excel, 371 KB)

Phase 1D Intergenerational Summit (PDF, 2.5 MB)

Greater Lafayette Handprint Graphic (JPG, 312.8 KB)

2040 Long Range Transportation Plan (PDF, 24 MB)

Arts Facility Needs Assessment & Operating Plan 2010 (PDF, 4 MB)

Design Charrette Ideas (PDF, 59 KB)

John T Myers Bridge Improvement EPICS Students 2012 (PDF, 12 MB)

Purdue’s Engineering Students in Community Service (EPICS) designed this recommendation to increase the use of the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge.

The Natural Step Primer (PDF, 1 MB)

The Natural Step Starter Guide (PDF, 1 MB)

Walk Friendly Community Assessment Tool (PDF, 1 MB)

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