As Indina cities strive to keep pace with technological innovation, Goshen hopes to shape a blueprint for the future.
On Oct. 21, 2025, the Sagamore Institute named Goshen the first city to receive the Stephen Goldsmith Prize for Innovation in Local Government. The announcement came during the annual Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (AIM) Ideas Summit in French Lick, Ind. The new statewide award begins its work in partnership with Goshen, supporting efforts to strengthen local democracy through technology, data, and collaboration. It provides hands-on support for bold, practical solutions that build trust, empower employees, and improve outcomes for residents.
Mayor Gina Leichty accepted the award on behalf of the City, calling it “a recognition of Goshen’s belief that small cities can lead in big ways through collaboration, creativity, and a shared dedication to serving people better.”
Goshen’s project addresses one of the biggest challenges facing local government: How to use artificial intelligence responsibly while maintaining the human connection that defines public service.
- PHOTO CAPTION: From left, Pete Yonkman, Goldsmith Prize Co-Chair and CEO of Cook Medical Group; Goshen Mayor Gina Leichty; Stephen Goldsmith, former Mayor of Indianapolis and the Derek Bok Professor of Urban Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School; and Teresa Lubbers, President of the Sagamore Institute.
A city preparing for the future
The City’s proposal pairs two coordinated efforts, the AI Preparedness Initiative and the Developer Assistant Tool Pilot. That includes modernizing data systems and improving site development review. Together, they form a foundation for responsible, practical use of artificial intelligence in city operations.
The AI Preparedness Initiative will catalog and standardize City data, establish shared metadata systems, and improve record storage practices to strengthen transparency and security. By organizing data more effectively, Goshen will be ready to use future AI tools safely and ethically.
The Developer Assistant Tool Pilot applies that groundwork to a real-world need. The tool will reference Goshen’s ordinances, zoning standards, and design requirements to help developers prepare accurate plan sets before submission. Fewer errors mean faster approvals, clearer expectations, and stronger collaboration between developers and City staff.
A collaborative approach
Director of Innovation and Technology Mattie Lehman led the project with input from the Mayor’s Office and Public Works. Local development and construction partners will provide feedback throughout the pilot’s development to ensure the tool meets real-world needs.
“Artificial intelligence is only as good as the data it draws from,” Lehman said. “By improving how we structure and share information, we’re making sure technology works for people, not the other way around.”
Mayor Leichty praised Lehman’s leadership.
“Mattie’s vision and technical expertise have been essential in shaping this forward-looking initiative,” Leichty said.
“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.”
— Teresa Lubbers, president of the Sagamore Institute.
The Goldsmith Prize Fellow
At the heart of the award is a one-year graduate fellowship that embeds a researcher within city government. Funded by the Sagamore Institute, the Goldsmith Fellow will work alongside City leadership through 2026 to build and test AI tools, establish best practices for data and record storage, and measure project outcomes.
Through the fellowship, academic research supports City operations by adding expertise and capacity for Goshen’s AI projects. It represents the active partnership between the City of Goshen and the Sagamore Institute that defines the Goldsmith Prize itself.
About the Goldsmith Prize
The Sagamore Institute launched the Stephen Goldsmith Prize for Innovation in Local Government in April 2025. The program was created in partnership with Accelerate Indiana Municipalities.
It recognizes cities that design measurable and high-impact solutions through collaboration and data-driven innovation.
Numerous applications were submitted by the Aug. 1 deadline. A panel of state and national innovation experts reviewed submissions and selected three finalists, and conducted interviews before selecting the winning city, said Teresa Lubbers, president of the Sagamore Institute.
“The City of Goshen is showing exactly the kind of forward-thinking leadership this prize was meant to honor,” Lubbers said. “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.”
Former Indianapolis Mayor Steve Goldsmith, for whom the prize is named, said Goshen’s work captures the purpose behind the new initiative.
“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,” Goldsmith said. “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.”
Building trust through innovation
Goshen’s approach reflects a belief that innovation must serve people first. Clean data, faster processes, and transparent systems will help City staff focus on problem-solving and public service.
“We’re honored and grateful to the Sagamore Institute and AIM for choosing Goshen to launch this initiative,” Leichty said. “This partnership strengthens our commitment to innovation in local government.”
Learn more about the Goldsmith Prize at sagamoreinstitute.org/goldsmith-prize