In September 2016, the Urban Manufacturing Alliance brought its national Gathering to Indianapolis, convening a coalition of leaders from government, non-profits, academia, and manufacturing at the Circle City Industrial Complex. Building on the momentum of 2015’s 3 regional convenings in Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York, the Indianapolis Gathering offered participants a rich local context for exploring strategies to strengthen production-based economies with equity at the center.
Hosted in partnership with Riley Area Development Corporation, the Gathering kicked off with a welcome reception and neighborhood tour through Indy’s Fletcher Place, featuring visits to local businesses and tastings of locally made food. The core programming took place on Thursday, centered on the theme Promoting Equity Through Urban Manufacturing. UMA unveiled a new equity toolkit developed in partnership with Pratt Center and PolicyLink, reflecting work done with city officials in Indianapolis, New York, San Jose, and Portland.
The Gathering concluded with site visits to local manufacturers Farm 360 and Horner Electric, giving participants a first-hand look at the people and businesses driving inclusive growth in the city. The event continued UMA’s tradition of sparking cross-city collaboration, supporting local branding efforts, and uplifting grassroots manufacturing ecosystems across the country.
