JCDC reviews 5-year strategic outlook

After about a year and a half of work, a plan is in place.

Melinda Grismer of Purdue Center for Regional Development presented Jay County Development Corporation’s new five-year strategic plan Tuesday to the organization.

Grismer, who worked with JCDC employees, local officials and business leaders to develop the plan, explained the process of gathering data and then laid out five goals for the next five years.



Economic development

Build a diversified community and economic development blueprint for Jay County

Objectives in this section of the plan include downtown revitalization, supporting entrepreneurship, retaining and expanding businesses and pursuing agricultural opportunities.

Key to the revitalization step is completing the processes for Redkey and Portland to become Main Street communities. It also calls for funding a Pennville planning study and reviewing and updating the Dunkirk planning study from 2009. First steps in all of those processes have already been taken.

Other strategies include helping connect entrepreneurs with consulting support, establishing a business retention/expansion task force and making sure property and infrastructure are in place to allow for business expansion.



Housing

Increase the quality and diversity of housing in Jay County

The idea is to increase housing at all levels — single-family, rental, senior/assisted living — starting by gather information via available data, surveys and focus groups.

This section also calls for the creation of a task force, exploring ways to incentivize improvement of housing and attracting new housing developments.



Infrastructure

Improve the physical infrastructure of Jay County

As with the economic development goal, the beginning stages of this plan are already underway. They include completing projects such as paving Blaine Pike and adding a sidewalk and the High/Middle Street and Votaw Street sidewalk projects in Portland; the Mooney Street sidewalk project, street paving and sewer separation in Redkey; and the Highland Street sidewalk project and elimination of blighted homes in Dunkirk. Continued paving, sidewalk, sewer and water work are part of the plan as well.

This section also calls for assessing the need and seeking funds for an early childhood development center and assessing and expanding broadband internet access.



Workforce

Expand and strengthen the workforce pipeline in Jay County

The first step in this process is to analyze data to determine strengths and limitations of the workforce and determine what industries fit best, and then work with local business leaders to identify what is needed to help attract workers.

Other objectives include providing new training at the high school level and beyond, and to seek funding for those initiatives.

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As the process continues, Grismer noted the importance of continuing to include the community in the process. Work toward the plan presented Tuesday included guest speakers, community surveys and focus groups that included government, industry and business leaders as well as young professionals.

“It’s a great thing when a community is willing to open itself up to comment from the public,” she said. “It’s such a two-way street. You’re giving them information about what’s happening with the organization, but hopefully you’re also getting exposure so they know what you’re doing in the community …

“You’ve started that process through focus groups. You’ve started that process through surveys. I would just suggest you keep that progress going. Don’t let them hear from you the next time five years from now. Make sure you’re communicating with them as you go through the process of completing all these goals.”