TELL CITY – The Tell City Council voted to renew its contract with the Perry County Development Corp. at their regular meeting Monday evening.

The agreement continues efforts between city leaders and the organization to promote a healthy environment for new residents and businesses. The council also began preliminary discussions whether and how to regulate the construction of pole barns and similar structures in the city as well as how to handle lawn-care requirements for some undeveloped properties on a case-by-case basis.

Corporation president Lee Chestnut addressed the council as they weighed renewing the city’s contract with that organization. Among other services, the PCDC provides professional consultant services for city leaders on matters of economic and workforce development.

The agreement would allow the corporation to continue its partnership with the city with a broadly similar scope of services as it has in the past. Its principal responsibilities would be broken down into four categories aimed at improving the community’s ability attract and retain residents and enterprises.

Chestnut noted the PCDC’s primary objective is to retain jobs currently within the community, recruit new industry and assist existing companies in expanding their operations. Building and maintaining relationships with these industry leaders may not always be sufficient to overcome broader market forces, such as a corporate consolidation closing operations at a local facility, the PCDC’s work does aim to ensure the best possible environment to keep jobs local.

To that effect, the corporation also measures the infrastructure of the city to assess what improvements might need to be made ensure long-term development. This would include countywide water and sewer projects, road systems and other necessities for various industries, as well as residents.

Chestnut also pointed out the PCDC works with the county and its communities to develop projects that make the area more attractive for citizens and visitors.

This mission focuses on maintaining a healthy population of working-age individuals and families, which would both spur more economic activity at home and provide a workforce for potential employers.

Council member Gary Morton pointed to the corporation’s work with Tell City’s Ivy Tech campus to help expand its services in the community. Morton specifically noted the campus’ childcare facility as a resource that has been critical to helping local families adjust to unpredictable work schedules, allowing those without other access to childcare to maintain employment.

“They worked really hard to get that off the ground and it’s been very successful,” said Morton.

Morton also pointed to the PCDC’s work with Ivy Tech in helping promote the development of skills in demand by companies in the wider workforce. Indeed, workforce development is the fourth key focus of the PCDC’s service to the city.

The council voted to renew its contract with the corporation on a fee-for-service basis. The total cost of services under the contract is not to exceed $118,079.
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