More funding earns first approval

More funding may be committed toward a housing project on the western edge of Portland.

Jay County Commissioners agreed to commit $1.3 million toward developing infrastructure for housing on the county-owned 68 acres on the north side of Votaw Street (Indiana 67) in Portland. Their decision is subject to receiving grant dollars from Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 2.0, the state initiative offering funding for capital projects.

It’s also contingent on approval from Jay County Council, which meets in joint session with commissioners at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The decision from commissioners follows Jay County Redevelopment Commission’s vote Thursday to commit up to $1.5 million for the project.

Rundell, Ernstberger and Associates presented a plan for developing the 68 acres at Jay County Development Corporation and Jay County Redevelopment Commission meetings Thursday. (Substantially the same information was also presented to Jay County Council in March.) 

The plan involves mixed-use properties — commercial on the first floor with apartments above — along Votaw Street and then various types of housing extending to the north. If fully completed, the project would create 76 single-family homes, eight duplexes and 154 multi-family units.

The overall public investment cost for installing utilities, building streets, developing a park space and a boardwalk is estimated at $25.5 million. It’s estimated to result in roughly $150 million in private investment. 

Planned in multiple phases, the cost is estimated at $4.5 million for Phase 1A to construct the main road beginning from Votaw Street on the west side of the property and angling northeast toward Industrial Park Drive and primary utilities to the first planned cross road. Completion of that road and utilities would follow in Phase 1B for $2.28 million.

Future phases would involve more utility work and a road on the east edge of the property, a connecting road between the two main roads and then building out additional infrastructure to the north.

Redevelopment commission member Brian McGalliard asked the board Thursday to commit funding, pointing out that the final application for projects requesting some of East Central Indiana’s allocation of funds through READI 2.0 is due Friday, Aug. 2. (The region, which includes Jay, Randolph, Blackford, Delaware, Grant, Henry, Wayne and Fayette counties, was awarded $35 million.)

McGalliard, who also serves as Jay County Commissioner, pointed again Monday to the deadline at the end of this week.

Installing the roads and utilities would create infrastructure needed to build mixed-use properties and houses on the property, according to plans from Rundell, Ernstberger and Associates.

The City of Portland has not formally discussed or committed dollars toward the project that is within its city limits. Some Jay County Redevelopment Commission members voiced hesitancy last week to committing funding without knowing Portland’s stake in the project. Other members noted working together with the city will be key.

Portland Redevelopment Commission is set to hear the same presentation from Rundell, Ernstberger and Associates at its 8 a.m. Aug. 9 meeting. Plans are also in the works to make similar presentations to the city’s housing task force and Portland City Council.

Jay County invested $1.5 million last year into the project, including purchasing the land for $1.15 million and hiring Rundell, Ernstberger and Associates to begin planning its development for $395,000.

McGalliard shared his plans Monday to request $4.2 million in matching funds from READI 2.0. In order to meet the required match, he requested commissioners commit $1.2 to $1.3 million toward the project using economic development income tax (EDIT) dollars, American Rescue Plan Act funds or wind or solar economic development dollars.

“To me, it’s a no-brainer,” said commissioner president Chad Aker.

Commissioners agreed to commit the funding subject to receiving READI 2.0 funding.