Pike County hadn't built a new single-family subdivision in Petersburg in over 35 years until the Meadows at Parkview project broke ground in 2024. Holiday World in Spencer County built its own employee housing because workers couldn't find places to live. Crawford County held its first-ever housing summit.

Gibson County Council member Bill McConnell put it plainly: 'We don't need jobs — what we need is residents in this county.' Many of the 7,000+ Toyota employees commute from outside Gibson County because housing and amenities are insufficient.

Housing is both a cause and consequence of population decline. Every county except Dubois is losing people. I'll push for state-level tools that help rural communities build starter homes, reduce regulatory barriers, and attract families who want to put down roots.