Cindy DiFazio, Osgood Journal Staff Writer
Lawrenceburg Mayor Bill Cunningham, began the Wednesday, September 13 meeting in City Council chambers by joking, "Normally when you have this many people in a room, there are problems." There were no problems evident in the gallery on that day.
The standing room only crowd had been invited to the session for the distribution of $8,336,500 in grant money funding seven projects throughout Southeastern Indiana.
The program is financed by the City of Lawrenceburg through its Municipal Development Fund. The fund is solely funded with gaming revenue generated by the Argosy Casino in Lawrenceburg.
Representing the Argosy Casino were General Manager Larry Kinser and vice-president of Penn National Gaming, Richard Klemp. Kinser addressed the session saying, "We've appreciated our ten years here. Best of luck and good fortune to the grant recipients." Mayor Cunningham responded, "We hope to continue this relationship. Larry has been a big supporter of our city. Now he's a big supporter of other cities."
Other dignitaries present included mayors and other government officials from the various municipalities and counties affected. Indiana Senator Johnny Nugent and State Representative Bob Bischoff were also in attendance to lend their support and applaud the efforts of the grant foundation and its recipients. Grants were awarded as follows:
* City of Versailles in Ripley County - $850,000 to purchase property and begin development of an industrial park.
* City of Batesville in Ripley County - $860,000 to construct an elevated water storage facility to serve existing industrial park.
* City of Greensburg in Decatur County - $4,000,000 as the first installment of a $10,000,000 commitment to assist with Honda Plant financing.
* City of Madison/Jefferson County - $500,000 to purchase 80 acres for an industrial park.
* City of North Vernon in Jennings County - $1,083,500 to complete rehabilitation and development of a regional learning and job training facility.
* Town of West College Corner in Union County - $300,500 to provide storm water protection in business district.
* City of Seymour in Jackson County - $742,500 to assist in new highway construction for its growing industrial complex.
Senator Johnny Nugent praised applicants for sticking to economic development requests. Nugent also encouraged those who were not chosen to try again noting, "There will be another day. The next round is only a few months away."
Prior to adjourning to the Argosy for a complimentary reception, members of the grant committee had an opportunity to address the session. Lawrenceburg City Manager, Tom Steidel, recognized the hard work of Governor Mitch Daniels, Senator Nugent and Representative Bischoff, praising, "They really helped to put this all in place." Charles "Mick" McNimery of the Board of Works summed up the hope for success of this year's economic development oriented grants by saying, "Industrial parks and roads mean a lot of jobs for a lot of folks. Honda originally projected 2,500 jobs. Now with supporting industry we may be talking 5-6,000!"
The 2007 grant program is tentatively scheduled to begin January 1 with applications available by email. It is hoped that the 2007 program will be funded at $10,000,000, the same as 2006.