More than 130 stakeholders from across Northeast Indiana gathered at Sylvan Cellars in Rome City on October 4 for the annual 5-County ED Forum, this time hosted by Be Noble Inc., Noble County’s local economic development organization.
Attendees including government officials, non-profit leaders, real estate developers, bankers, and more were provided a wealth of information pertaining to economic development after the pandemic.
A series of presenters provided information from their different perspectives as developers who work in a variety of capacities. Isaac Lee, MBA and executive director for Steuben County Economic Development Corporation and a board member of the Indiana Economic Development Association, kicked things off with his overview of what economic development in Northeast Indiana has been like since the pandemic.
Allie Daugherty, community liaison with Indiana’s Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), continued with the theme, adding her perspectives, adding information specifically related to community, quality of life, and placemaking. She also shared a list of grant opportunities available from Indiana’s state funding pools.
The program changed to a question-and-answer format when Edmond C. O’Neal III, president and CEO, and Kim Tempel, senior director of business services and human resources, for Northeast Indiana Works came forward. Melanie Kellogg, executive director of Be Noble Inc. asked the duo a series of questions to help inform the audience about the current status – and likely future – of the workforce in Northeast Indiana.
Next up, Heidi Amspaugh, a principal with Bakertilly, shared an informative overview of tax increment financing (TIF), a popular economic development tool used across the nation to spur commercial, industrial, and residential revitalization and growth.
David Behr, director of expansion and retention (BR&E) in the north region for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, wrapped things up by sharing an overview of the state’s expanded focus on BR&E, noting that the vast majority of new investments come from existing employers.
Presentation slides, made available with permission from presenters, may be downloaded for review:
For more information, feel free to reach out to presenters or contact Be Noble Inc. at (260) 636-3800. The 2024 5-County ED Forum is slated to be hosted by Whitley County Economic Development.
