October 21, 2025
Sagamore is proud to announce that the city of Goshen, Indiana, led by Mayor Gina Leichty, has been awarded the inaugural Goldsmith Prize for Innovation in Local Government. This award, presented today at Aim’s 2025 Ideas Summit, aims to recognize and catalyze bold, collaborative, and high-impact solutions developed by local leaders that address pressing challenges in Indiana communities.
The winning project will implement a general AI platform to prepare the city for responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence tools, including an AI Preparedness Initiative that will catalog and standardize Goshen’s city data to improve transparency and access. Then, the city will execute its first AI platform to address the affordable housing crisis, streamlining development processes into a faster, more efficient, and user-friendly system for developers, contractors, and city officials.
A Development Assistant Pilot will harness improved community data to experiment with an AI-powered tool that helps developers prepare site plans for formal submission.
The project was crafted by Mattie Lehman, Goshen’s Director of Innovation and Technology, who will lead both the development and implementation phases. “Mattie’s vision and technical expertise have been essential in shaping this forward-looking initiative,” said Mayor Leichty. “Her leadership ensures we’re building a foundation for responsible innovation that strengthens both city operations and community trust.”
The Goldsmith Prize will provide the city of Goshen with a paid graduate student fellow to support the development and implementation of the two initiatives over the course of one year. This individual will work closely with Mayor Leichty’s team to advance both initiatives, bringing dedicated capacity to explore new tools, test ideas, and help integrate AI responsibly into city operations. This resource will play a vital role in helping the city innovate while balancing the demands of day-to-day governance.
“When we created this prize, our hope was to recognize the public leaders who are willing to take smart risks on behalf of their communities,” said former Indianapolis Mayor Steve Goldsmith. “Goshen has done just that. Their work proves that even small cities can lead the way in using technology to serve people better and build a stronger future for local democracy.”
The Goldsmith Prize was launched in April 2025 and generated interest and inquiries from dozens of cities representing every corner of the state, according to Teresa Lubbers, President of the Sagamore Institute. Numerous formal applications were submitted by the August 1 deadline. A panel of state and national innovation experts reviewed the applications, selected and interviewed finalists based on specific criteria and selected the winning city, said Lubbers.
“The City of Goshen is showing exactly the kind of forward-thinking leadership this prize was meant to honor. By embracing AI as a tool to strengthen transparency, efficiency, and community trust, Mayor Leichty and her team are setting a model for how cities of all sizes can innovate responsibly. It’s a reminder that the best local innovations start with a deep understanding of community needs,” said Lubbers.
“We’re honored to receive the inaugural Goldsmith Prize and grateful to the Sagamore Institute and Aim for choosing Goshen to launch this initiative,” said Mayor Gina Leichty. “This partnership strengthens our commitment to innovation in local government and affirms that small cities can lead in big ways: through collaboration, creativity, and a shared dedication to serving people better.”
In addition to the winning community of Goshen, the two finalists for this year’s award are the Cities of Michigan City, led by Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch, and Tipton, led by Mayor Kegan Schmicker.
The Goldsmith Prize is co-chaired by former U.S. Representative and Indianapolis Deputy Mayor Susan Brooks and Cook Group CEO Pete Yonkman. Sagamore leads the Prize in partnership with Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (Aim). The Goldsmith Prize honors the legacy of Stephen Goldsmith’s visionary leadership as Mayor of Indianapolis (1992-2000), which set a national standard for innovation in local government. The Prize builds on this legacy, empowering Indiana’s mayors and civic leaders to pioneer transformative ideas that make a lasting impact.
For more information, visit sagamoreinstitute.org/goldsmith-prize.
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Media Contact
Kristopher Kaliher, Communications Specialist, Sagamore
kris@sagamoreinstitute.org