The Daviess County Commissioners voted 2-1 on a request from the Daviess County Economic Development Foundation for an option to purchase 35 acres of county owned land near the county airport for $13,000 per acre. Foundation Director Ron Arnold said once acquired, the foundation would then use the land to trade for 35 acres of land near Hoeflings near the interstate where plans are in the works to for a workforce development center, and the Twin Rivers Vocational Development Center, along with a convention center complex that that could include an amphitheater, and possibly two hotels and two restaurants. .A Lily Economic grant is available to fund growth growth in the I69 corridor and Arnold said local officials need to show control of the acreage before the grant application would be considered. Commissioner Nathan Gabhart voiced reservations about committing county resources to the plan without more concrete guarantees. Arnold emphasized that right now the foundation was just requesting an option which would allow them to apply for the grants. Commissioners Dan Jones and Michael Taylor voted to approve moving forward with the foundation’s proposal and consider a potential agreement at the next commissioners meeting. Gabhart voted against the request.
