Just after hearing progress updates on goals to improve housing, internet access, child care and transportation, Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County’s board renewed its four-year contract to serve the county and extended a remote worker attraction program.
MakeMyMove
Wayne County Commissioners asked EDC’s board to spend $130,973 from Consolidated EDIT Fund to extend MakeMyMove remote worker attraction. Funds would cover MakeMyMove’s services and mover incentives.
Indiana EDC might reimburse part of those costs.
With the extension, Wayne County wants to lure a total of 30 remote workers.
So far, 10 movers and their families have relocated. Three more households are in the midst of moving. The average household income for those 13 households is $104,785.
Two more have accepted offers and three offers are pending.
Quality of place
EDC President Valerie Shaffer told the board at its April meeting that many tactics are in progress to address worker recruitment and retention barriers.
However, she said work remains to enhance countywide transportation and align planning and zoning policies across the county to support development goals.
Shaffer said Wayne County lost transportation options since Depot Taxi closed, but EDC is trying to find another provider. Conversations are taking place with Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce’s Melissa Vance and Richmond Mayor Ron Oler to find solutions. No entity has volunteered to lead the effort for the entire county.
Meanwhile, Shaffer said EDC has devoted a lot of time in the last few years toward improving local housing. If all seven housing projects come to fruition, about 900 to 1,000 new units would be built.
Some new housing could be in Main Street areas. A total of $2 million in downtown revitalization grants will be distributed soon across the county.
Shaffer’s pleased that statewide, regional and local partnerships over the last three to four years will soon result in downtown development. She said the most significant outside funding she’s seen in her career is being leveraged with local investment to make significant change.
While Sarah Mitchell’s time has been focused on growing industrial parks, she hopes to soon work with towns on their planning and zoning policies.
Forward Wayne County, which is linked to Wayne County Foundation, currently leads efforts to improve broadband connectivity with EDC support.
Theresa Lindsey is connecting organizations and employers to make child care more affordable and reliable. Two new centers, Cambridge City Y Care and Reid KinderCare in Richmond, have opened since 2021. EDC also has helped employers and workers connect to an online platform to increase awareness of existing resources.
Contract renewal
County commissioners already approved their EDC contract, just changing dates. EDC staff and board now can make long-term plans.
In other business
- A $2.5 million grant request was submitted to the federal Economic Development Administration for a new $5.93 million water tower at Gateway Industrial Park in Cambridge City. The new tower would increase water storage capacity to help the park grow.
- With EDC support, East Germantown and Economy met playground fundraising goals. Campaigns have begun in Milton and Dublin.
A version of this article appeared in the April 17 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.