Sep 10, 2024. County weighing economic proposal,  BCD, Dakota Bruton.

• • “Owen county officials signed their letter supporting the proposed district earlier this year. Brown County is the only one out of the three that has not made a decision about the development district.”

    “The discussions are ongoing, but we’re trying to weigh the positives and negatives and I don’t think that we’ve gotten quite across the finish line on that one,” County Commissioner Blake Wolpert said.  

Proposed Economic Development District. Sponsoring Agency: Federal Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of Commerce

• • Includes Owen, Brown, and Monroe Counties.
  • The common aim is Nature and Trails, Art and Culture.   These are the features that retain and attract new residents to Brown County.
    • Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis Reports Outdoor Recreation Economy Tops $1 Trillion in 2022
  • Requirements include evidence of community support supported in the County Comprehensive Plan and documented  EDAs required Commercial Economic Development Plan (CEDP)
    • “A CEDS is the result of a “regionally-owned” planning process designed to guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of an area or region. It provides a coordinating mechanism for individuals, organizations, local governments, and private industry to engage in a meaningful conversation and debate about the economic direction of their region.”

Update: May 24, 2024.  Establishing a New Economic Development District- request for  Letters of Support by Blake Wolpert, Board of Commissioners

• • Risk – Accepting federal money can include “requirements” that may be contrary to local interests.

The EDD was introduced at the Joint Working Session on May 21, 2024.

• • AUDIO – Part 1 Work Session

26:45 Audio Part 1. 

• Presentation Marce King from Own County. Marce is the executive director of the Owen County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development.  Presentation supporting a federal Economic Development District (EDD) consisting of Owen, Brown, and Monroe County.
  • The focus of the regional alliance would be on Trails and Nature and Arts and Culture (areas we have in common).
  • Opportunity to obtain federal and state grants.
  • Requires the county to submit a Commercial Economic Development Plan (CEDP) which serves as an application for the Federal Economic Development Agency to consider approving.
  • A CEDP would integrate and expand where needed on the County Comprehensive Plan.  The County Comprehensive Plan represents the Voice of ALL the citizens and not just Brown County’s special interests.  It documents what citizens want and do not want in terms of economic development and quality of life.  It also influences the economic base.
  • THE CORE REQUIREMENT.  Community-wide buy-in and support.