Worker recruitment, land bank expanding

Believing recent project successes merit additional investments, Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County is expanding worker recruitment and blight reduction efforts.

Make My Move

After reaching its goal of recruiting 30 remote workers and their families, EDC agreed to extend Make My Move.

The new $5,000 incentives are to lure out-of-state workers to fill Wayne County jobs paying at least $55,000.

The initial program drew qualifying workers (average age 40) earning an annual average of $102,000. Fifteen participants have been here for a year, and all of them stayed.

The movers included 48 adults and 23 children. Many came from Florida, California and Ohio.

The new plan to recruit 20 qualified households will cost $280,000, split evenly between taxpayer dollars managed by Wayne County and Indiana’s EDC.

IEDC would make its second $70,000 payment after Wayne County gets 10 mover commitments.

Ryan Pike, MMM senior sales executive, said each dollar invested in the first round yielded a $15 statewide average. Wayne County’s investment yielded more, with every $1 leading to $21.49, Pike said.

MMM has recruited 2,087 new Hoosiers.

After discussion, EDC board members chose to offer incentives to anyone meeting the salary threshold and background check if they find a job and choose to move here. They believe that openness will help numerous employers.

Land bank

In early 2025, EDC approved spending $100,000 to explore formation of a Wayne County land bank. Land banks support preservation of existing structures and promote incremental redevelopment of vacant, abandoned and deteriorating properties.

Renew Landbank gathered data from the county’s tax sales, real estate market and Geographic Information Systems, and Richmond code enforcement. They interviewed code enforcement officials, housing developers, neighborhood leaders, county staff and first responders.

After looking at Wayne County’s challenges, Renew recommended establishing a land bank as a quasi-governmental nonprofit integrated into county or municipal systems. It would have a separate budget but preferably hire staff through the government so workers could access employee benefits.

EDC president Valerie Shaffer prefers being part of county government to make interlocal agreements easier and reduce any community concern that Richmond would get more benefits. She said a secured funding stream is needed for the land bank to be financially feasible.

Renew suggested initial seed capital of $60,000 from Wayne County and $40,000 from Richmond, followed by yearly contributions ($80,000 county, $60,000 Richmond and $5,000 from at least three participating towns). In-kind contributions would be $100,000 in property lien clearance from Richmond and $2,500 in waived recording and transfer costs from the county.

Conversations have begun with towns to gauge interest. However, local leaders worry about impacts of potential upcoming reductions in property tax revenues.

Thus, Shaffer recommended EDC contribute $100,000 from Consolidated Economic Development Income Tax funds for the initial capital, and the board agreed.

In other business

• The board approved Brady, Ware & Schoenfeld’s 2024 audit. EDC staff, especially Office Manager Rhonda Fisher, received kudos for clean records and accounting policies.
• Chair Jim Tanner said a potential business expansion can’t be discussed publicly yet but is in progress. EDC staff also pursued two direct leads from Indiana EDC for new attraction projects interested in Midwest Industrial Park.