Council members hear comments against the economic development corporation and it’s foundation.
Most of Wednesday’s Daviess County Council meeting consisted of a presentation by Ron Arnold, Executive Director of the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation and President of the Economic Development Foundation. Arnold explained and defended the work of the Corporation and Foundation partly in response to some who disagree with how the entities operate.
Two patrons, Marty Sellers and John Richardson expressed their opposition to the EDC and the Foundation. Both disagreed with the Foundation’s use of tax generated funds in economic development construction projects that are leased to private businesses. Sellers also questioned the service contracts the county has with the foundation. Richardson claimed the current way the economy is being developed in the county is not working.
Arnold, explained how it has worked. He reported that 12 economic development projects from Odon’s Indiana Rail Trans Load facility to Plainville’s Tri Star Glove to the expansions of GPC, MacAllister’s and Alliance Barrier Films have resulted in industrial expansion and a generated increase of 179 million dollars in assessed valuation and more than 800 jobs since 2012. Arnold said that in the past 16 years more that 1600 jobs have been created in Daviess County at a time when surrounding counties were seeing a net job loss.
Washington Mayor Joe Wellman and County Council member Mike Myers both commented on how Daviess County has become the envy of the rest of the state when it comes to taking the lead in economic development.
Myers said that other counties are starting to what Daviess County has been doing all along while Wellman said the county has become noted for working together, providing facilities and creating jobs.
