I-69 to give city economic advantage, IU economic experts say

Interstate 69 will give Indiana and Bloomington an economic advantage over neighboring states and other regions of the country, said members of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business panel of economic experts Thursday during the question-and-answer period of their annual Business Outlook presentation.

The highway will offer an incentive to new businesses locating near Bloomington by making it easier to get supplies in and ship products out, said Jerry Conover, director of the Kelley School’s Indiana Business Research Center. It also will provide a key connector with Canada, the U.S.’s biggest export partner, and will make the state a link between Canada and Mexico. Both will bring revenue to the state, said Charles Trzcinka, Kelley School professor of finance.