JCDC looking at its future

A committee will be appointed to chart a course for Jay County Development Corporation.

The organization’s board of directors held a special meeting following an executive session Tuesday to discuss the future following last week’s announcement that executive director Travis Richards is resigning effective Nov. 15.

The board:

•Agreed to an hourly rate of $46.95 per hour for Richards to continue working on an as-needed basis through the end of the year. “We have some major projects going on, especially READI (Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative 2.0), that we want to make sure are taken care of,” said board president Angela Paxson.

•Approved the appointment of a committee to look at the executive director’s job description, compensation and benefits. The group, to be appointed by Paxson, will make recommendations at the organization’s regularly scheduled Dec. 3 meeting.

Richards reiterated Tuesday that his decision to leave Jay County Development Corporation was primarily family related. He has led the organization for six years. He will become the production manager at Sonoco in Portland.

“I think that what Travis has done over the years needs to be complimented,” said board member Mike Medler. “It’s appreciated what you’ve done for this entire community and county.”

Several board members commented in agreement, as did Rob Weaver of WPGW Radio.

“This standing ovation that he received at the awards program said a lot,” he said, referencing the reaction after Jay County Development Corporation won the Not-for-profit of the Year Award during the Jay County Community Awards in May.

During the community update portion of the meeting during which each board member is invited to share information, Jay County Commissioner Rex Journay told the board that the county declined an offer of $1 million through the state’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 2.0 toward an effort to develop 68 acres of county-owned land on the west side of Portland. He explained that the funding is not enough to launch the project, a planned $25.5 million in total over a series of phases for commercial space and housing.

There have been no public announcements from Indiana Economic Development Corporation regarding READI 2.0 awards for the East Central Region or from East Central Indiana Regional Partnership, which is leading the eight-county region that includes Jay County. (Officials have reached out to applicants that were preliminarily selected for funding.)

Also Monday, the board:

•Heard from Richards that JCDC has received its $50,000 allocation from The City of Portland for its services in 2024. “That’s great,” said Richards, noting that the organization was down to about $5,000 in its checking account. “We’re in a position where we can carry on into the new year.” (JCDC has not received any funding from the county this year during a continued contract dispute.) 

•Was reminded about the following upcoming events:

   —Pennville Park Board’s designer purse bingo at 6 p.m. Friday

    —The Delta Theta Tau craft show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Jay County Junior-Senior High School

    —An Arts Place community input meeting from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, at John Jay Center for Learning

    —A sportsman’s dinner and gun raffle at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and an all-you-can-eat breakfast in support of Secrete Families Christmas Charity of Jay County from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, both at Portland Elks Lodge

    —The turkey drop at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, in downtown Dunkirk

    —The Arts Place Holiday Benefit Auction at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22

    —A “shop hop” with visits to businesses in Portland, Pennville, Dunkirk and Redkey on Nov. 22 and 23. (LifeStream buses will provide transportation.)

    —Feel the Warmth of Christmas from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, in downtown Dunkirk