Marion County Democrats

Melina Kennedy unveiled an economic development strategy Tuesday that she said would focus on making it easier to do business in the city, grow small businesses, improve workforce development and foster entrepreneurism.

"What we need is an active mayor," Kennedy said at a campaign stop at the Cannon IV headquarters east of Downtown. "We need someone who will help move the ball forward . . . using the bully pulpit, bringing the business community together and never letting her eye off the ball."

The Democrat is challenging Mayor Greg Ballard in the Nov. 8 general election. Ballard, a Republican seeking a second term, announced his economic development platform on Aug. 24. He would focus on small-business growth, streamlining government permitting and making the city a larger player internationally.

"A lot of what Melina Kennedy highlighted and called for in her plan today is very similar to what Mayor Ballard already outlined two weeks ago," said Ballard's campaign spokeswoman, Molly Deuberry.

Kennedy, though, said the mayor has spent too much time focusing on international companies. A small-business owner herself, Kennedy said her focus would be more local. She and her husband, Bob Kennedy, co-own BlueMile, a store for runners.

She outlined four areas to target:

Promote job creation by reducing barriers and burdens on business owners. Her ideas include creating a single point of contact within the city for businesses, conducting a quarterly webinar on business issues, creating a business owners' guide to the city and conducting an annual survey on the state of business.

Promote growth of small businesses through the use of city resources. That would include using the city website to promote businesses, encouraging minorities and women to open businesses, and creating a commission with up to 20 business leaders charged with supporting small- and medium-sized businesses.

Improve leadership on local workforce development. Her plan includes targeting workforce training to schools, community centers, neighborhoods and ex-offenders. She also would link people, organizations and institutions to grow the most promising industry sectors in the city.

Foster and support local entrepreneurship. That includes partnering with local entrepreneurs to fund merit scholarships for Marion County high school graduates. She also would support local technology seed funds.

Ultimately, voters will decide whether Ballard or Kennedy has the better plan.

Decatur Township resident Dan Rider, 64, is leaning toward Ballard in the election. Still, the Southwestside resident said Kennedy's ideas sound good -- and said he'll vote for the person, not the party.

"All you have to do is get some of the regulations and taxes off of small businesses," Rider said. "It's not a very easy environment to work in. If you get businesses going, then you help unemployment."