Quadrozzi: E.D. education is needed (09/13/06)

EDIT, CEDIT, TIF, JCDC.

Confused?

Addressing members of the Jay County Development Corporation during its annual meeting Tuesday evening, executive director, Bob Quadrozzi, expressed concern that area residents are uninformed about these economic development systems.

"People are confused about the entities out there. It's all alphabet soup," he told JCDC members during the meeting about the Economic Development Income Tax, County Economic Development Income Tax, Tax Increment Financing, Jay County Economic Development.

Speaking to discussions opposing new strategies that have been implemented during the past year, Quadrozzi said he was concerned that the public is not as informed as needed.

Pointing to residents' concerns about the implementation of the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) redevelopment commission, Quadrozzi said plans call for inaugurating ED-101, an information workshop.

"It is our job to inform the public," Quadrozzi told members.

"TIF will help tremendously," he said. "It should have been done 15 to 20 years ago. Most communities have it. I'm real encouraged and honored to be named president of (the Portland Redevelopment Commission)."

He said he would be available to talk to anyone that has questions about any of the county's economic entities.

"We need to get the citizenry a little more astute" to the county's economic development plans, he explained.

Also in his annual report Tuesday noting the economic progress in the county, Quadrozzi said, "During this past year ... local industries indicated that total annual payrolls of all industries sat at approximately $115 to $120 million per year," he said.

Since JCDC's inception in 1985, the county has experienced 63 new business locations with capital investments of $197,644,499, creating 1,872 new jobs, Quadrozzi said.

There were 177 expansion projects with $399,421,461 capital investment and 1,356 new jobs created.

"Combining the totals is proof in itself that JCDC has made excellent progress in achieving its mission," he said.

In the past year JCDC has offered assistance to 27 projects consisting of new locations or expansions and retention of existing businesses. These projects created 180 new jobs and helped retain some 147. The total of $144,554,710 in investment exceeds last year's fiscal year of $128,309,609, Quadrozzi said, and represents the best year recorded in the past 21 years.

Quadrozzi also told the board said he was concerned that some communities' EDIT funds are not being used for their intended purpose.

"We want to go back to what they were intended for," he said of future plans for those funds, "and we're working on ways to overcome that."

"Overall this past year has produced some exciting growth in the county," Quadrozzi said. "As in past years, some of the communities are struggling through difficult times, however, barring any serious economic reversals, there are signs that fiscal year 2006-07 may show some light at the end of the tunnel."

Also highlighting the past year's activities was community developer Ami Davidson.

"What a year! I was hired one year ago exactly," she told the board.

Highlighting the accomplishments of the past year, Davidson noted Salamonia was successful in receiving a $235,000 grant for the Salamonia Community Center project. That project is scheduled for completion by the end of November.

She said she has also assisted many organizations with grant applications throughout the year and several communities are awaiting approval for their grant applications - including the Dunkirk Fire and EMS station, and the Bryant storm water/sanitation project.

"My first year of employment has been full of learning, challenges, and meeting new people that I hope to work with for many years to come," she concluded.

Also Tuesday, seven new members were elected to the board with a recommendation to changed from one-year to three-year terms. They included Jack Moore and Dennis Shepherd whose terms expire in 2007; Vicki Tague and John Knipp, whose terms expire in 2008; and Dan Watson, Jim Riggle and John Nill, whose terms expire in 2009.

Additionally, Lee Bone was re-elected as secretary and Rosalie Clamme was re-elected as treasurer, each for one-year terms.[[In-content Ad]]