Submitted by City of Tipton
The Sagamore Institute has named the City of Tipton one of three statewide finalists for the inaugural Stephen Goldsmith Prize for Innovation in Local Government, recognizing the city’s forward-thinking approach to community collaboration, data-driven decision-making and small-town revitalization.
The announcement was made during the Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (AIM) Ideas Summit in French Lick in October. The new statewide prize honors cities that are using innovation, technology and partnerships to strengthen local democracy and improve outcomes for residents.
Mayor Kegan Schmicker accepted the finalist recognition on behalf of the city.
Schmicker
“Being selected among the top three cities in Indiana for this inaugural award is an incredible honor,” Schmicker said. “It reinforces what we already know – that Tipton has the people, creativity and momentum to lead the way in how small cities can innovate to create a stronger community.”
Tipton’s submission outlined a coordinated effort to unite local government, businesses and data technology in a shared mission to make Tipton a more connected and vibrant place to live, visit and grow.
Through partnerships with platforms such as Placer.ai and Proxi, the city aims to position itself to apply advanced analytics and mapping tools typically used in larger cities to a small-town context. This initiative will help local leaders and businesses better understand visitor patterns, improve event planning and guide economic development strategies.
The city’s proposal emphasized collaboration between departments, downtown businesses and local organizations to create a more unified approach to growth and communication.
To help sustain that collaboration, the city proposed hosting a graduate fellow through the Goldsmith program who would coordinate execution, support local onboarding to digital tools and document best practices for other small cities to follow.
Although Tipton did not receive the top prize this year, city officials say the recognition has only strengthened their resolve to move forward with the Discover Tipton vision.
“We’re proud to have made it this far and even more excited about what’s next,” Schmicker added. “Our focus on activating local assets, strengthening partnerships, and using data to guide decisions ensures Tipton continues to grow and thrive.”
Local business owner and downtown retailer Kindra Tragesser, who helped present the proposal, said the lasting impact on downtown vitality will measure success.
“When people start seeing more weekday foot traffic, stronger event turnout and real collaboration between the City and our businesses – that’s when we’ll know we’re succeeding,” Tragesser said. “Tipton’s story is just getting started.”
About the Goldsmith Prize for Innovation in Local Government
The Goldsmith Prize was launched in 2025 by the Sagamore Institute in partnership with Accelerate Indiana Municipalities. The program recognizes cities that design measurable, high-impact solutions through collaboration and data-driven innovation.
The award honors the legacy of Stephen Goldsmith, former mayor of Indianapolis and professor of urban policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School, who has long championed innovation and efficiency in public service.
For more information about the Goldsmith Prize, visit sagamoreinstitute.org/goldsmith-prize.
