By Vicki Urbank, Chesterton Tribune
A study identifying what Porter County needs technology-wise to assist and attract employers is one way that the Porter County Economic Development Alliance will use its designated share of income tax funds.
In a presentation to the Porter County Commissioners this week, members of the PCEDA outlined how they plan to spend the $150,000 that the commissioners allocated from the County Economic Development Income Tax, as follows:
$65,000 for a technology infrastructure study.
$30,000 to develop a unified economic development website.
$2,500 to continue membership in the Small Business Development Corp.
$20,000 toward business incubators in Chesterton, Valparaiso and Portage
$32,500 to expand a signage program
The PCEDA, a coalition of public and private officials, was formed in part to unify economic development initiatives throughout the county and to spend a portion of CEDIT funds for countywide projects. The alliance is about to celebrate its first anniversary, noted member Jim Jorgenson.
The projects outlined Tuesday come from the CEDIT funds collected for this calendar year. The largest single project is the technology infrastructure study, aimed at identifying existing technology resources in Porter County and the shortfalls.
PCEDA member Michael Bucko said new technologies are in demand statewide. He said he has heard of counties much smaller than Porter County that are already using the latest in competitive fiber technology woefully lacking here.
Jorgenson said employers, whether a large, integrated steel mill or a family farm, need access to the best in technology.
The results of the technology infrastructure study will be presented to the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority for possible funding to implement the needs, Jorgenson said. He added that it will be important that the PCEDA study is transferable to the RDA, which is addressing economic development projects on a regional level in both Porter and Lake counties.
Another PCEDA project is the development of a new website that will unify and link to the individual economic development commissions and corporations throughout the county.
Chris Stidham, executive director of the Portage Economic Development Corp., said about 75 percent of the inquiries to Portage come from the Internet. He said it makes sense to have one unified website for all the county, with each municipality’s economic development programs featured.
He said he hopes to get the new website in place shortly after the start of the new year.
Another PCEDA project is $20,000 toward the development of business incubators. The economic development commissions in Chesterton, Valparaiso and Portage will each get $5,000 toward their incubators, with another $5,000 to be used by the PCEDA for training.
Business incubators assist start-up businesses before they become totally independent. Stidham said Portage’s incubator, which started up this past summer, assists new business in support services, such as Internet access and secretarial help, while allowing the business to focus on development of their core product.
Another PCEDA project will continue a new signage program welcoming those coming into Porter County. The PCEDA has identified 14 “gateways,” and so far, signs have been prepared for four sites, all in south county. The signage in the northern end is expected to be ready in six months or so.
County Commissioners John Evans and Robert Harper both praised the work of the PCEDA. The commissioners did not need to formally approve the CEDIT funding for the alliance, since they already allocated the $150,000 to be spent as the PCEDA directs.
Evans commended the diversity of the PCEDA projects and said the various projects speak well of the unified county alliance.
Harper cited the city of Portage’s recent experience attracting Bass Pro and said such efforts don’t happen by chance. In order to attract good, quality jobs, he said, “it takes a lot of work, it takes a lot of effort.”