|
Boone EDC Weekly
Greetings from the Boone EDC,
Welcome to Boone EDC Weekly.
As an organization, the Boone EDC is constantly researching and benchmarking to learn what our competing communities are doing to attract and retain business. Boone EDC Weekly is a compilation of noteworthy National and Indiana news about economic development trends. We will also post information about upcoming conferences, events and webinars that you may find interesting.
Boone EDC Weekly is another tool that you can refer to as a community leader to help Boone County continue to move forward in a positive manner.
|
|
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg Announces Mayors Challenge
Mike Bloomberg today announced Bloomberg Philanthropies' Mayors Challenge, a competition to inspire American cities to generate innovative ideas that solve major challenges and improve city life. The Mayors Challenge will award one $5 million grand prize and four $1 million prizes to the cities that come up with the boldest and most replicable ideas.
 | | Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge |
Click here to learn more.
|
| Paving Dollars Decline for Indiana Counties
A new state law gives counties easier access to property tax revenues to pay for road repair, but local and state officials say it won't make a dent in Indiana's crumbling infrastructure.
The new law, effective July 1, allows counties more flexibility to dip into their general operating funds to patch the fiscal holes created by a loss of revenues from the other pots of money that traditionally have paid for highway maintenance.
Under the new law, counties can spend property tax or other miscellaneous general fund revenue to fix and maintain their county highways without having to wait for an emergency or get unanimous approval by a county council to do so.
Click here to learn more.
|
| New York Paid Developers $1B to Improve Brownfields
A new report from a statewide environmental group says New York's brownfield remediation program is broken. Advocates say too few sites are being redeveloped -- at too high a cost.
Developers were paid $1 billion in state tax credits to improve just over 100 contaminated sites. That's according to a new report from Environmental Advocates of New York.
The group's Alison Jenkins says the tax incentives are grossly inefficient. "The communities that really need revitalization aren't getting it. We're seeing a lot of these tax credits go to areas that would've been redeveloped anyway. So this is really just kind of the icing on the top for a few developers claiming these really large tax credits," said Jenkins.
|
Right-to-Work Boosts Indiana Business
Daniel J. Hasler, Indiana Secretary of Commerce and chief of IEDC, spoke June 12, during the annual luncheon of the Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council. Explaining that a thousand whispers can be heard over a shout, he encouraged the group talk to their business associates and get them to think about Indiana as a place to locate and grow a business.
Of the 150 companies considering Indiana, 47 have said they are doing so because right-to-work was enacted, Hasler said. Of those businesses, 40 are in active negotiations with the state and of those, 13 have accepted incentive offers.
The IEDC leader said having right-to-work legislation makes selling the state easier.
"Is it the end-all, be-all? Absolutely not," Hasler said of right-to-work. "Does it give us something else to sell? Absolutely."
Click here to learn more.
|
| Rushville Officials Take Concerns to Washington D.C.
Rushville Mayor Mike Pavey recently led a group of city and economic development leaders to Washington D.C. to meet with federal legislators in an effort to heighten awareness of projects and issues important to the community.
The delegation of five made a visit to Washington D.C. to meet with federally elected officials to discuss various topics directly related to the advancement of Rushville, Rush County and even the local region.
The delegation had meetings spanning two days. They specifically met with Congressman Mike Pence, Congressman Chip Cravaack, Senator Richard Lugar, Senator Dan Coats, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Affairs, Tom
Guevara of the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
The delegation presented each official with a bound book highlighting five major areas of interest the region, county and city are pursuing including: Creating a north/south four-lane interconnect between I-74 to I-70, complete Phase 1 of the North Industrial Park, address the flooding issues handicapping the Cherry Street extension, re-create support for a community center and enhance the cultural opportunities within the community by renovating a downtown theater.
|
Richmond Leaders Debate on EDIT Tax
City officials appear headed for a showdown on the question of the city administration's use of the Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT).
Richmond Common Councilwoman, Misty Hollis, voted on Monday to slow an ordinance that would have allowed the city to apply for a $2 million federal highway grant to rebuild a section of South E Street in the city.
The immediate issue is the city's plan to use EDIT money for a local match for the grant. The grant match is $511,500. The bigger issue is the city's use of EDIT money for grant matches, road work, building demolition and consulting.
|
Boone County Polo Event
The 9th Annual Boone County Polo Event will take place on July 14, 2012 at the Hickory Hall Polo Club located north of Zionsville in Whitestown, Indiana. Gates open at 12 p.m. noon, with the match begins at 1 p.m. Proceeds from the annual fundraiser will benefit the Witham Health Services Foundation, which supports hospital projects in the Boone County community, as well as Boone County Senior Services, which provides life sustaining and enriching services for older adult residents.
General admission is $20 per car, or polo boxes can be purchased by local businesses, clubs and individuals/families. Polo box registration forms are available at www.booneseniors.org or by contacting 765-482-8112.
Boone County Polo Facebook Page
|
SAVE THE DATE!
The Boone EDC Annual Meeting sponsored by Metronet and Skjodt-Barrett Foods will be on Wednesday, July 18, from 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
The Boone EDC will be raffling an iPad sponsored by Hachette Book Group with the proceeds benefiting Boone County Councilor, David Rodgers and his family. Please stay tuned for additional information!
 
|
|
|
|
Meeting Dates:
Boone County Commissioners: - June 18 @ 9 a.m. Boone County Council: - June 26 @ 8:30 a.m. Boone County APC: - July 4 @ 7 p.m. Boone County RDC: - June 15 @ 2 p.m. Advance Town Council: - July 9 @ 7 p.m. Jamestown Town Council: - July 3 @ 7 p.m. Lebanon City Council: - June 25 @ 7 p.m. Thorntown Town Council: - June 18 @ 7 p.m. Whitestown Town Council: - July 10 @ 6:30 p.m. Zionsville Town Council: - July 2 @ 7 p.m. Boone EDC Board of Directors: - July 26 @ 4 p.m. Boone EDC Executive Committee:
- July 12 @ 7:30 a.m.
|
|
