Junior Joshua “Josh” Coons has little more than a year left at Carmel High School. But for Coons, even those few months are far too long. According to Coons, a Carmel resident for 16 years, the city itself has run out of future opportunities.

“I grew up in the Midwest, and there’s more country than just the Midwest. So I just want to go somewhere else, kind of mix things up,” Coons said.

According to various U.S. Census studies, Coons is not alone. More and more high school students are viewing college years and the years that follow as a chance to relocate to places other than the Midwest. This “brain drain,”-educated college graduates leaving their hometown and refusing to return- has been an issue facing Indiana for quite some time. Nancy Heck, Director of Community Relations for Carmel, said the relocation of young adults sparks numerous consequences for the city, for the ability to retain younger citizens is beneficial to a community.

“Communities flourish with the ongoing addition of young minds and ideas,” Heck said via email. “Carmel wants to attract and retain the younger workforce in order to have diverse workforce and continue to attract top talent, which allows us to attract corporate headquarters and health care facilities that are looking for a well-educated, dynamic workforce.”

In an effort to promote these positive effects, Carmel has been taking steps to draw college graduates back to the city with projects such as the Arts & Design District
and the Palladium.

“Carmel has expanded in recent years to include an Arts & Design District, the Center for the Performing Arts with two theatres and a concert hall,” Heck said. “These new facilities have added jobs to the market as well as entertainment, dining and shopping options for residents. Young professionals can plug unto the cultural aspects of what Carmel has to offer through community and civic volunteering efforts.”

By offering a variety of housing options and active community activities, Carmel hopes to meet the needs of current teenagers and provide incentive for them to return back to their hometown after their college experience is complete. To that end, Emily White, a junior and Carmel resident her whole life, takes the opposite viewpoint of Coons. According to White, she considers Carmel a community worth coming back to. Unlike Coons, White said she plans to return when the opportunity presents itself. Although unsure of her college plans, White says the Midwest has a small town appeal that she finds alluring.

“I think I’ll probably come back here, even if I go out of state for college. I think Carmel is a really nice city, and it’s a good place to raise a family. It’s awesome to go to big cities for a couple of days, but I just can’t see myself living there,” White said.

If White follows through on her decision, she will be the second generation of her family to do so. White’s mother, Kristy White, attended CHS wand chose to reside here after graduating from Saint Mary’s College in Wionna, Minnesota. Like her daughter, Mrs. White said she agrees that Carmel is a city to settle down long-term.

‘The main reason I returned to Carmel is for family. Carmel is a very wealthy and safe town. It is a good place to raise a family,” Kristy said. “Most of my friends that relocated chose warmer and better climate conditions.”

Carmel’s economic and developmental growth will hopefully play a factor when young people search for a permanent residence. Many hope to not only attract families like the Whites but also a diverse selection of generations. According to Heck, Carmel presents enough opportunities to satisfy the wants of multiple age groups.

“The city of Carmel has worked hard to be able to offer multi-generational, recreational, entertainment, cultural and professional opportunities. We have increased parkland and trails from 40 to more than 600 acres; we have created a performing arts center that rivals the best in the world; we have about 40 corporate headquarters offering a wide variety of jobs; and we have many free festivals, concerts, special events and holiday activities that bring a community closer together.”