County OKs a contract with JCDC

A contract has been signed.

Jay County Commissioners formally approved a service agreement Monday with Jay County Development Corporation.

Last month, Commissioners approved a $50,000 request for the remainder of JCDC’s budget for the year and two months of reserve dollars. 

JCDC and commissioners’ current service agreement, which started earlier this year, expires June 30. The new contract — it will run from July 1 through Dec. 31 — mirrors services outlined in the current agreement.

Those services include:

•Working with the county in the development of local businesses

•Engaging in activities to evaluate and assist in obtaining buildings, building sites and industrial parks for possible economic development opportunities in Jay County

•Assisting businesses in securing tax abatements

•Providing resources to the county's grant writer/community developer for grants and project development

•Working with Jay County Redevelopment Commission and other local or regional groups

•Providing services to economic development income tax (EDIT) advisory committee

•Assisting the county with other economic development projects as requested

JCDC’s board of directors has not yet approved the contract, which had a few slight changes to adhere to the county’s ordinance regarding contracts. (The ordinance requires certain language must be used in each contract approved with the county, such as a clause indemnifying Jay County from losses, costs or expenses incurred by the county as a result of negligence, willful misconduct or wanton disregard of the other party’s obligations.) It follows a state law that was passed last year.

Jay County officials approved $100,000 in dollars for JCDC in January. 

The JCDC board of directors in May approved the organization’s 2025 budget at $196,016.65. With $172,150 pledged for the year at that time, the organization still had a budget deficit of just under $24,000. The board originally planned to request enough funding ($116,330) to cover six months of expenses, having spent down its reserves in 2024 amid contract disputes with the county.

However, JCDC board president Angela Paxson last month requested $50,000 from commissioners for the rest of the year.

“I do realize that your funding is tight this year, you've got other projects and other entities, and $140,000 is more than we need as a cushion at this point,” Paxson said to commissioners May 27. “It's taken us over 20 years to build up to that, so I can understand.”

Commissioners president Chad Aker voiced support at the May 27 meeting for JCDC’s new director, Ceann Bales, who started in early April. He also shared positive thoughts about the county’s relationship with the organization moving forward.

“I've got full faith and confidence in Ceann, I think that, you know, she's going to follow through on this stuff, and I think it's going to be a success, and this also shows that we want to work together," said Aker.