Update receives initial approval

Jay County Redevelopment Commission is updating its economic development plan.

Commission members formally agreed Wednesday to amend a declaratory resolution regarding the county’s economic development area, the first step in updating the plan.

The legislation next moves to Jay County Plan Commission, then Jay County Commissioners before returning to redevelopment commission for a final decision. (The process also includes a public hearing.)

Jay County Redevelopment Commission also decided Wednesday to add early education or daycare projects to the plan, which will serve as a guide for how to allocate dollars coming in from the tax increment financing (TIF) district.

Created about 15 years ago after plans to build an ethanol plant in rural Jay County were announced, the TIF district covers approximately 191 acres southwest of Portland in Greene Township. TIF dollars have been used since then to pay off bonds associated with road work and sewer improvements near the plant.

Jay County paid off its final bond for the project in 2023, and the redevelopment commission has been looking into options for dollars coming in from the district for the next 13 years. As of March, the redevelopment commission had more than $851,000 in TIF dollars available, with another $573,448.82 expected by the end of the year.

The last economic development plan created for the redevelopment commission dates back to 2007, the same time the TIF district came into existence. The new plan maps out a list of potential projects the redevelopment commission could contribute toward with TIF dollars. (It was originally based on Jay County Commissioners’ capital improvement plan.) 

Items on the list now include projects for transportation enhancements, public safety enhancements, utility infrastructure, Jay County Highway Department improvements, a new building for Jay County Solid Waste Management District and a public safety building and development of the 68 acres owned by the county on the western edge of Portland.

The board agreed Wednesday, per recommendation from board member Chuck Huffman, to add child care projects — he suggested options such as contributing toward early education or daycare facilities or providing scholarships for children to attend those institutions — to the list.

Answering a question from board member Ted Champ, consultant Ed Curtin of CWC Latitudes confirmed the board isn’t yet tied to allocating specific amounts of TIF dollars to the projects in the list. It will instead serve as a guide moving forward.

Also Wednesday, the redevelopment commission learned it will need to determine and report the amount of any excess assessed value within the TIF district before June 15. (If reported, it may be allocated to the respective taxing units.) In years past, the redevelopment commission has not reported excess assessed value, instead using the funds to pay off the bonds associated with the ethanol plant. 

Jason Semler of consulting and accounting firm Baker Tilly will explain more about the topic and review redevelopment commission’s 2023 financial report at its next meeting at 5 p.m. May 22. 

The redevelopment commission also heard from county attorney Wes Schemenaur about hopes to create a new TIF district encompassing prospective solar farms in Jay County. Solar farms are expected to be located on 5,350 acres in the county total and include Skycrest Solar in Penn and Jackson townships, Rose Gold Solar north of Dunkirk, Sun Chief Solar northeast of Redkey and New Jay Solar east of Dunkirk.

Schemenaur suggested speaking with town and city officials in those areas to gauge potential projects for TIF dollars.