A list of 20 projects, ranging in price from a new Ivy Tech Community College facility to a new gazebo in the Town of Cadiz, earned the unanimous support of the Henry County Council on Wednesday afternoon.
The council voted 7-0 in favor of accepting the 20 projects for food and beverage tax funding. The vote came after months of discussion, investigation and deliberation about how the county should disburse about $1.7 million in revenue that had collected in the food and beverage fund.
Organizations were invited to submit applications for funding and then the nine-member volunteer Henry County Capital Improvements Committee considered about 40 applications.
On Wednesday, the committee presented its recommendations to the Henry County Council. And the council decided to accept the recommendations without changes.
Nate LaMar, president of the council, applauded the committee for its weeks of work on the food and beverage tax.
"I think they've come through for us with some excellent recommendations that will benefit all parts of Henry County," LaMar said.
The most expensive - and discussed - project on the accepted list was one to purchase a former car lot on Ind. 3 and renovate it for a new Ivy Tech Community College facility.
Although there is $1.7 million in the food and beverage fund currently, the county will pursue bonds so it can spend about $2.9 million total on all of the food and beverage projects.
Of that, about $2.2 million will go to the Ivy Tech project. Kim Cronk, president of the Henry County Commissioners, said on Wednesday that the county will own the facility and lease it to Ivy Tech, which plans to increase its enrollment here from about 300 students to about 1,000.
During the meeting on Wednesday, elected officials and education leaders spoke out in support of the Ivy Tech project.
Steve Fisher, superintendent of New Castle Community Schools, said the project was an investment in the future of the county.
"This is a no-brainer," Fisher said.
And Greg York, New Castle mayor-elect, said the Ivy Tech project would continue positive momentum in Henry County and would help train workers for today's jobs.
Henry County Councilman Richard Bouslog said higher education is no longer an option for people today. They have to have it, he said.
Bouslog quoted race-car driver Tony Stewart, saying "You win in the turns." With the economy turning, Bouslog said Ivy Tech and other positive economic development moves are putting Henry County in a good place.
"We're in a position to start passing some people," Bouslog said.
Four members of the capital improvements committee presented the list of 20 projects during Wednesday's meeting. Dick Myers, chairman of the committee, and Christy Ragle, a member of the committee, said they were excited about all 20 of the projects.
"They represent hope for our community," Ragle said.
In addition to Ivy Tech, the council approved about $118,000 in funding to build a new rail bridge to improve rail access for businesses, about $130,000 for the Henry County Saddle Club and about $25,000 for research for a shell building here.
The council endorsed recommendations that the YMCA receive about $75,000 in funding for new equipment, that the Friends of Sunset Park get about $53,000 to help construct a new splash pad in Knightstown and that $50,000 go to the Arts Park for park improvements.
In addition, the council accepted giving $25,000 to Healthy Communities of Henry County for trail work, $65,000 to help the Henry County Convention & Visitors Bureau to buy its office building on Ind. 3 and $37,500 for the Henry County Historical Society for a new Maxwell car display.
About $31,000 was approved for the Town of Middletown's water park, $9,000 was approved to repair sidewalks at the Middletown Civic Center, and $15,000 was approved for the Middletown War Memorial.
The council accepted $15,000 to help pay for roof repairs at the Mooreland Town Hall and $7,500 for a roof on a shelter house in Lewisville.
In addition, under the committee's proposal, the Wilbur Wright Birthplace will get $6,000 to expand its community room, the Town of Cadiz will get $5,000 for a new gazebo, and Memorial Park will get $52,400 to repair an overspill.
Youth sports leagues will also benefit. The New Castle Babe Ruth League was approved to get $25,000 to repair fencing, and the New Castle Girls Softball League was approved to get $25,000 for field and fence repairs.
The list of projects drew only a few questions and complaints during the meeting. Councilman Harold Griffin asked why the committee didn't allot money for road repairs. But committee members said the road projects weren't closely enough tied to economic development and tourism.
© Copyright 2025, The Courier-Times, New Castle, IN.