While flooding affected a local industrial park, downtown Richmond apartments nearing completion are a bright spot.
The costs to repair Wayne County’s Midwest Industrial Park from flood damage have been estimated at approximately $230,000. Those costs include about $200,000 to install a new culvert and crossing, $10,000 to remove debris left at the site, and $20,000 for design work. Sarah Mitchell, Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County’s economic development manager, described the damage to EDC’s board at its Oct. 5 meeting.
Damages have been reported to the Emergency Management Agency, and officials are reviewing whether any disaster relief funds can be obtained. In the meantime, plans for a water tower in Cambridge City’s Gateway Industrial Park have been temporarily paused as Cambridge City navigates its severe flood damage and relief efforts.
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EDC President Valerie Shaffer said construction on the apartments, being built on the former Elder-Beerman store site in the 600 block of East Main, is on schedule. Owners hope to lease apartments by the end of the year, and the leasing office is beginning to open.
Units along Main Street are mostly finished, and the swimming pool is last on the list.
Rates will be determined when units are finished, based on market demand.
EDC board President Peggy Cenova called the update “exciting.”
In other business
In September, EDC staff worked on eight potential expansion projects and responded to six new projects.
Wayne County Land Bank, which EDC is helping establish, received an $18,750 grant ($15,000 from the Federal Home Loan Bank and $3,750 from Wayne Bank) to acquire vacant parcels.
Ten developers applied to rehabilitate historic homes in Richmond’s Starr neighborhood. Applications are being reviewed.
EDC received a clean independent audit from Brady Ware. The board approved the audit draft.
Theresa Lindsey and volunteer Pat Heiny received a Purdue University grant to continue early childhood education coalition work. Six Purdue grad students will assist.
A Ball State University student from Wayne County will serve as a county ambassador, the county’s first time in the program.
More than 100 Richmond, Northeastern and Nettle Creek students toured Belden, Ahaus Tool & Engineering and Vandor’s factories on Oct. 2 for Manufacturing Day.
The next free Homeowner 101 series starts online Oct. 27. Visit intendindiana.org/homeownership-101/ or call 765-983-4769.
EDC will bring together all 50 families who’ve moved to Wayne County through Make My Move incentives at a private October event.
A version of this article appeared in the October 14 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
