RICHMOND — Wayne County's commissioners committed $20,000 Wednesday for a partnership designed to incentivize remote workers moving to Wayne County.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation is offering $120,000 matching grants in a first-come, first-served program geared toward attracting remote workers. The city of Richmond would be the local applicant in partnership with the county and the Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County.
The program would involve a marketing campaign and incents and aims to attract 20 new remote workers. Commissioners unanimously supported committing the $20,000 from their county economic development income tax budget Wednesday because the first-come, first-served nature of the IEDC grant makes time critical.
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During Wednesday's discussion, which included EDC President Valerie Shaffer, Commissioner Jeff Plasterer said initial investments of $20,000 by the county, city and EDC along with $60,000 in IEDC match could implement the $120,000 marketing campaign and provide time to develop the incentive packages. That would include pursuing other fundraising opportunities for the additional $60,000 local match.
The Richmond Common Council agenda for its Jan. 18 meeting includes presentation of an ordinance to accept an IEDC grant for the program and to authorize an undetermined portion of the local match up to $120,000 from the city's local income tax funds.