Mayor Whitfield to Speak at Economic Development Summit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 10, 2026
 
MAYOR WHITFIELD TO SPEAK AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT
      
Lawrence, IN – Mayor Deb Whitfield will be a featured panelist at the Insight Summit, a Veridus Group Event on August 13th, 2026. The two-day Summit, beginning on Aug.12th, will take place at Plat 99, The Alexander. The Summit will feature several sessions, including Capital Projects, Economic Development, and Public Safety.
 
Mayor Whitfield will be on a panel with the Economic Development session entitled Housing the Workforce: Strategies for Attainable & Missing Middle Development. In addition to Whitfield, the panel will feature Cumberland Town Manager Ben Lipps and Liz Leising, President and Chief Executive Officer of Margaret Mary Health. The panel will be moderated by Nate Lelle, Vice President of Client Development at Inherent Commercial and will take place in The City Way Gallery in The Alexander.
 
“With Indiana facing a significant housing shortage, particularly in attainable and missing middle housing, I empaneled the Housing Ready Task Force last year to help guide Lawrence’s housing policies going forward”, Whitfield said. “This session will explore how to address the stigma often attached to multifamily and workforce housing and how to use data, studies, and real-world examples to shift public perception”, the Mayor explained.
 
Attendees will hear from local governments, developers, and housing advocates about where these housing types belong, how to discuss them clearly with the public, and how communities can prepare for and welcome the development they need.
 
Those interested in attending the Insight Summit can do so by registering at:
Insight Summit
 
Media Contact
Denise Herd, Herd Strategies
317-796-0514
denise@herdstrategies.com
 

###
 
 
About the City of Lawrence, Indiana
Located northeast of Indianapolis, the City of Lawrence is Indiana’s 20th largest city and home to approximately 50,000 residents. While its military base was decommissioned in 1996, Lawrence has grown into a vibrant community that blends rich history with modern amenities. Under the leadership of Mayor Deb Whitfield, the city continues to thrive as a welcoming place to live, work, and play. Learn more at cityoflawrence.org.
 
About Veridus Group
Veridus Group, Inc. is the parent company of Veridus Advisors, Naventium Design, and Civitas Strategies, providing multidisciplinary services in the areas of owner’s representation, civil engineering, and economic development to clients across Indiana, Michigan, and the Midwest.
Contact: info@theveridusgrup.com; 1-888-7271.