Firm is getting grant

A $100,000 grant to a Fort Recovery company’s start-up in Portland will be administered by the city.
Members of the Portland City Council agreed Monday to allow the city to serve as administrator for a $100,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs that has been awarded to Fort Recovery Industries.
The Fort Recovery firm plans to move some of its operations into an industrial building in Portland Industrial Park. The company plans to invest about $4.9 million in the expansion and create at least 20 jobs by the end of 2011.
As part of the DR2 Economic Development Grant from the state, Fort Recovery Industries must provide matching grant funds. The grant money will be used to purchase equipment. Fort Recovery Industries is purchasing the 50,000-square foot spec building and 7.63 acres.
Bill Bradley, executive director of Jay County Development Corporation, said this morning that the purchase agreement for the building has not been completed.
The company has been approved for $175,000 in economic development income tax funding ($87,500 each from Portland and Jay County).
In other business Monday, council members gave Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier permission to sign a document for the Stellar Communities grant program.
The city has been awarded $10,000 to create a proposal for the final round of grant applications. Portland is one of the communities in the running for $4 to $5 million. The grant money is a combination of funds from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and Indiana Department of Transportation.
If awarded the grant funds, the city would use the money for the north side sewer separations project, to rehabilitate homes on the city’s north side, to construct a sidewalk along West Votaw Street and to make a bikeway/walkway.
The grant program is designed to provide more transportation choices, expand energy-efficient housing choices, improve economic competitiveness in communities and enhance communities. The winners will be announced early next year.
In a related matter, Hosier said that the city’s request for federal funds to be earmarked for the north side sewer separation is one step closer to approval.
He said the $2 million has “made it into the process.” Hosier said the city’s request for the funds to be earmarked is, “Not a pork (barrel) belly request.”
This fall, many members of the U.S. Congress decided to forgo earmarking funds for projects, due to budget constraints.
Pork-barrel legislation refers to money being earmarked for projects — such as dams, bridges and highway construction — that impact legislative districts with powerful legislators.
Hosier said this morning that he believes the process of earmarking funds needs to be more transparent. However, he feels it is a good process for rural communities such as Portland. The funds would lessen the burden on local utility users. The north side sewer separation project is expected to cost $5.8 million.
Also Monday, council members:
•Approved $649,911.23 in encumbrances for the purchase of good or services received in 2010 but not paid for until 2011.
By far the biggest chunk of the encumbered funds is $325,329.15 for Muhlenkamp Building Corporation’s work on Phase IV of Hudson Family Park. More than $100,000 in claims is also pending for The Schneider Corporation for various work for the city.
•Voted to transfer funds in the mayor’s fund, the common council fund and the Dare donation fund.
The transfers were:
Mayor — $1,800 to part-time salary from equipment, communication and transportation.
Common council — $3,000 to office supplies from repairs and maintenance.
DARE donation — $437 to equipment from communication and transportion.[[In-content Ad]]