EDC leader receives 2-year contract extension

In another show of support for Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County leadership, its board unanimously extended its president’s contract for two years.

Valerie Shaffer will receive a 4% raise to her current base salary of $142,956 in 2027 and another 4% raise in 2028, pending Wayne County Council’s approval of her salary in EDC’s annual budget.

Peggy Cenova, board chair, noted Shaffer’s level of professionalism and attention to detail. Cenova described the EDC staff and its leader both as “amazing,” and said it’s a pleasure to work with Shaffer.

Before the vote, Cenova told the board that Shaffer’s latest performance evaluation conducted by EDC’s executive committee was “stellar as you all can imagine.”

According to its 2025 annual report, under Schaffer the EDC has focused on housing and downtown revitalization while supporting three business expansions, including Liberation Bioindustries’ $115 million biomanufacturing plant, and reported 21 new jobs and $4.8 million in committed industrial investment.

On the housing side, the organization secured a $5.1 million READI 2.0 award, committed $820,000 through its Housing Accelerator Program to leverage $26 million in private investment, and advanced projects such as the proposed Smith Hill subdivision and a $30 million downtown apartment redevelopment.

EDC’s Make My Move recruitment program has attracted 50 households over about four years, generating an estimated $4.2 million in annual economic output on $201,000 invested, a roughly 20:1 return that led the EDC board and county commissioners to approve another $100,000 toward the program in September.

Shaffer initially joined Wayne County’s EDC staff in 2002. After a year of working for Indiana EDC, she returned to lead the local organization in 2012.

In other business

• EDC continues to pursue large employers. It sent information about local amenities to Indiana EDC for three prospects; it’s courting two local leads; and another company might schedule a site visit this month. Digital marketing efforts to generate leads will be ramped up in 2027.
• The multi-year blight elimination project is winding down. Richmond has three more properties to demolish by year’s end and East Germantown has two. Cambridge City has one, but that timeline might need extension because the town’s August flood damage slowed progress.

Some homes were repaired instead of demolished, so more than $100,000 is expected to be available at the program’s end.

Remaining funds are being diverted toward renovations of Richmond’s historic Starr neighborhood homes, either to remove asbestos or to demolish blighted outbuildings and later additions. The board approved a $14,700 contract with Indianapolis-based SSI Services LLC to remove asbestos from eight Starr homes in preparation for renovations.

• The board approved reallocating $10,000 unspent Housing Accelerator program funds from the Garwood Acres development toward installing underground utility lines for home construction in the Vaile neighborhood. Two alley cuts are needed, increasing the expense. Intend Indiana is in the process of beginning construction on the next seven homes.
• At least six applications have been received for downtown revitalization funds for the county’s smaller communities and unincorporated areas. More applications were expected before the Nov. 9 deadline.
• Heritage trades workshops are being planned next year through collaborations with Indiana Landmarks and local preservation and historic site leaders, including Matt Stegall and Joanna Hahn, on topics such as housing assessment, windows/plaster, carpentry, masonry and paint, for $40 per session.