August 2, 2017 at 4:46 p.m.
Planning process continuing
Copyright 2017, The Commercial Reivew
All Rights Reserved
Jay County Development Corporation will continue its strategic planning process through the end of the year.
JCDC executive director Bill Bradley updated the board on the strategic planning schedule during its meeting Tuesday. Also discussed were several projects that are ongoing or upcoming.
Bradley told board members the next step in the strategic planning process will be a 15-question survey that will be distributed to about 250 to 300 members of the local business community. That will be followed by a series of four focus groups on Sept. 26 and 27.
Following those efforts to gather local opinions, there will be a series of meetings facilitated by Purdue Center for Regional Development from the end of September through December.
JCDC is in the process of developing a new strategic plan to guide it through the next five years.
It started the process in the spring with presentations by Zan Zuerner of Garmong Construction, Terre Haute, and economists Morton J. Marcus and Michael Hicks.
Bradley also touted recent expansion announcements by Tyson Mexican Original and W&M Manufacturing in Portland as well as Mosey Manufacturing in Dunkirk. He said he is working on several other projects, including potential restaurants, possible tenants for the former Marsh supermarket space and news businesses/expansions in Portland’s industrial park.
On the local industry front, Bradley told the board that there continues to be a labor shortage as unemployment remains low.
Ami Huffman, director of community development, reported that Jay Community Center received a $41,900 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture for the purchase of new equipment and some finishing touches for its new senior center. The facility, which was completed earlier this year, was built thanks in part to a $400,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.
She also continues to work with The Portland Foundation and United Way of Jay County on the issues of early childhood education and daycare. She noted that Jay County has a 10 percent kindergarten repeat rate, which is double that of the state.
In other business, the board:
•Heard the Hoosier Opportunity website — http://hoosieropportunity.com — that launched earlier this year now has more than 20 Jay County businesses participating. The site is a partnership between economic development organizations in Jay, Randolph and Wayne counties.
•Learned from Bradley that JCDC’s finance committee will likely meet later this month with a goal of approving the 2018 budget in October. The budget has typically been up for adoption in December, but the organization has had difficulty getting a quorum at that meeting for the last several years.
•Was reminded that Greg Beumer, who serves as the state representative for Jay County, has been selected to lead Randolph Economic Development Corporation on a one-year contract. Beumer, who has held that position in the past, had been filling in as the interim director prior to being hired last month.
All Rights Reserved
Jay County Development Corporation will continue its strategic planning process through the end of the year.
JCDC executive director Bill Bradley updated the board on the strategic planning schedule during its meeting Tuesday. Also discussed were several projects that are ongoing or upcoming.
Bradley told board members the next step in the strategic planning process will be a 15-question survey that will be distributed to about 250 to 300 members of the local business community. That will be followed by a series of four focus groups on Sept. 26 and 27.
Following those efforts to gather local opinions, there will be a series of meetings facilitated by Purdue Center for Regional Development from the end of September through December.
JCDC is in the process of developing a new strategic plan to guide it through the next five years.
It started the process in the spring with presentations by Zan Zuerner of Garmong Construction, Terre Haute, and economists Morton J. Marcus and Michael Hicks.
Bradley also touted recent expansion announcements by Tyson Mexican Original and W&M Manufacturing in Portland as well as Mosey Manufacturing in Dunkirk. He said he is working on several other projects, including potential restaurants, possible tenants for the former Marsh supermarket space and news businesses/expansions in Portland’s industrial park.
On the local industry front, Bradley told the board that there continues to be a labor shortage as unemployment remains low.
Ami Huffman, director of community development, reported that Jay Community Center received a $41,900 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture for the purchase of new equipment and some finishing touches for its new senior center. The facility, which was completed earlier this year, was built thanks in part to a $400,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.
She also continues to work with The Portland Foundation and United Way of Jay County on the issues of early childhood education and daycare. She noted that Jay County has a 10 percent kindergarten repeat rate, which is double that of the state.
In other business, the board:
•Heard the Hoosier Opportunity website — http://hoosieropportunity.com — that launched earlier this year now has more than 20 Jay County businesses participating. The site is a partnership between economic development organizations in Jay, Randolph and Wayne counties.
•Learned from Bradley that JCDC’s finance committee will likely meet later this month with a goal of approving the 2018 budget in October. The budget has typically been up for adoption in December, but the organization has had difficulty getting a quorum at that meeting for the last several years.
•Was reminded that Greg Beumer, who serves as the state representative for Jay County, has been selected to lead Randolph Economic Development Corporation on a one-year contract. Beumer, who has held that position in the past, had been filling in as the interim director prior to being hired last month.
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