Projects may be coming

It may be the dead of winter, but a county economic development group is hoping to be working on several industrial expansion/building projects when spring rolls around.

Robert Quadrozzi, executive director of Jay County Development Corporation, told members of his board Tuesday that projects are likely in several communities — including Pennville, Redkey and Dunkirk.

At least one, and possibly two, existing Pennville industries hope to expand, while officials in Redkey are working to develop and build a small spec building in the town’s industrial park in hopes of attracting a tenant.

In Dunkirk, conceptual drawings of a new entrance to the city’s industrial park have been developed. The plan is to connect the industrial park, located on county road 450 South just east of the city, with county road 400 South via a new road.

During a report to his board, Quadrozzi also noted that Advanced Seal Technology, located in the Bryant Industrial Park, was named industry of the year by the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce. There is one site left in the Bryant Industrial Park.

Also during his report, Quadrozzi noted the recent approval of the use of economic development income tax funds for construction of a building west of Portland that will house Gym City Gymnastics.

The proposal for a 9,600-square foot building at a cost of $284,000 was first made public Jan. 19 at meeting of the Portland City Council.

The building will be constructed on currently undeveloped land on Tyson Road across from the Indiana Army National Guard Armory owned by the Portland Economic Development Corporation, a private stockholder corporation.

Plans for the building are proceeding, Quadrozzi said Tuesday. “We have finally taken care of all the concerns,” he said.

Gym City owner Donnie Schlosser will pay for insurance, utilities and taxes, as well as a lease payment. Although that payment has not been finalized, Quadrozzi said Tuesday it would be about $2,500 per month.

Quadrozzi also said Tuesday that Portland’s financial obligation on a 50,000-square foot spec building in Portland Industrial Park will be due April 1, 2005. The project was a partnership with James Jackson Construction of Bluffton, with Jackson financing construction costs and delaying payment for up to three years or until the building is sold.

In other business, JCDC board members:

•Received an update on projects currently under way by community developer Wayne Bailey, including the completion of a fire truck grant application for Pennville and continued work on an attempt to get grant funding for Salamonia to renovate Madison Township School into a community center. Bailey also said he is continuing to work on getting zoning implemented in Redkey.

•Were told by fellow member Jim Zimmerman that the annual Jay County Ag Week will be held March 8-12. The Ag Day breakfast will be Tuesday, March 9, with the annual Farmers Night dinner on Thursday, March 11.

•Were reminded by Quadrozzi that the annual Industrial Appreciation Dinner will be held Tuesday, May 11. The speaker will be economist Morton Marcus, whose weekly column “Eye On The Pie” is published by The Commercial Review.[[In-content Ad]]