Henry County considers joining East Central Indiana Regional Planning District

Pam Price and Brad Bookout of East Central Indiana Regional Planning District proposed adding Henry to the list of counties they serve Tuesday at the Henry County Council meeting.

The district planning commission provides help in economic development, grant research, and writing and transportation, recreation and housing projects.

Penny York, New Castle-Henry County Economic Development Corp. special projects coordinator, said she thinks it is important to be a part of a regional economic group and that it could benefit Henry County in several ways.

“There are several options of regional groups we could join,” York said. “We are exploring our options.”

The district planning commission currently serves four counties, Blackford, Delaware, Grant and Jay. In the last two years Bookout has wrote more than $51 million in grants and special projects financing, and helped created at least 1,300 new jobs.

According to the district’s mission statement, that group works to serve local governments “by fostering a regional vision, providing collaborative leadership and professional services to develop effective solutions, and maximize economic development opportunities that benefit all citizens of the district.”