New Energize leader visits JCDC

For the second time this year, the Jay County Development Corporation board met the new leader of Energize-ECI.
JCDC executive director Bill Bradley introduced Energize-ECI president/CEO Mindy Kenworthy at the group’s meeting Tuesday.
“She comes to us with an abundance of experience,” said Bradley. “I am just as happy as anybody to have Mindy on board because I think she’s going to take this organization in a very positive direction.”
The Richmond native was selected in May to replace Dennis Maloy, who met with the JCDC board in April. He was removed from his position just a few days later.
Kenworthy has worked in economic development in Wayne and Blackford counties and spent the last seven years with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. She said she wants to “hit the reset button” with Energize-ECI, which she said has been Muncie/Delaware County centric.
She noted about 80 percent of the board members and funding sources have been from Delaware County, and she’d like to see greater representation from the other nine counties involved.
“First and foremost, the purpose is to market the region for new business development,” she said. “Through my efforts in marketing the region, I hope to be able to bring prospects, leads and projects to the region that I can then hand off to the local communities.”
Bradley reported to board members that visits to local businesses are going well. He repeated a concern he has brought up repeatedly over the last year — a need for employees.
“We need workers,” Bradley said. “We need people. It is amazing when I go around and I find out how many of our companies have open positions and they cannot find people. …
“It’s a real critical issue.”
He hopes vocational education programs being introduced through Jay County High School and John Jay Center for Learning will help solve that problem.
In other business, the board:
•Learned from Jay County Chamber of Commerce executive director Dean Sanders that Taste of Jay County will be rebranded this year into its own event instead of being part of Winterfest activities. Scheduled for Sept. 28 at Jay Community Center, it will now be called the Jay County Food and Drink Festival. It will include food from local restaurants as well as cooking demonstrations, entertainment and a drink pavilion with craft beers and wine.
•Heard from Bradley that he continues to talk to companies interested in the former Jay Products and Hartzell Air Movement buildings in Portland.
He also asked board members to review a revised committee structure that will include personnel, finance, nominating, a past chairs and executive committees and be ready to volunteer for one of those groups at the next meeting.
•Got an update from community developer Ami Huffman. She is continuing to work with Dunkirk officials on developing a senior housing project, and also noted that work on the depot building in the city is going well.
•Heard a reminder from Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman that the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Show is scheduled for Aug. 20 through 24 at Jay County Fairgrounds.