Economic Development Coalition Helps To Build Communities
(July 30, 2010) – The Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana announced its mid-year accomplishments in Community Development with more than 35 written and administered grants for 2010. An integral part of its mission, the Coalition provides up-to-date grant program information to units of local government and works with local elected officials to identify projects that could potentially be funded by grant awards. Since its formation in 2006, the Coalition has secured $32,266,710 in direct grants for its four partner counties to help with projects such as water and sewer improvements, downtown planning and purchase of emergency responder equipment.
“We love what we do! It is very fulfilling knowing that in a small way the Coalition is helping to build this region for generations to come,†said Debra Bennett-Stearsman, Vice-President of Community Development for the Coalition. “It is an honor working with the communities to make them better places to live.â€
“Efforts like those exhibited by Debra and her team enrich the quality-of-life for the region’s residents and helps to attract both talent along with new businesses to our communities,†said Greg Wathen, President & CEO for the Coalition.
The Coalition also recently completed the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) document for submission to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). Spearheaded by consulting firm Strategic Development Group, a committee of 46 community leaders was brought together over a period of four months to compile goals and objectives for the region. A master list of projects for future grant consideration by the EDA and the Indiana Office of Community & Rural Affairs (OCRA) is also part of the document. The CEDS document may be viewed at www.southwestindiana.org/cd_CEDS_Report.
The Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana acts as the umbrella economic development organization for Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties in Southwest Indiana. The Coalition facilitates and coordinates business retention, expansion and attraction activities; and, supports efforts to enhance the business climate through regional capacity building. For further information about the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana please visit our web site at www.southwestindiana.org.
Economic Development Project Listing
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COALITION OF SOUTHWEST INDIANA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDED PROJECT LISTING (By County)
VANDERBURGH COUNTY
Project: Urgent Need – Fire Station
Grantee: Knight Township
Year: 2005
Grant Amount: $500,000.00
Project: Burdette Park
Grantee: Vanderburgh County
Year: 2008
Grant Amount: $2,500,000.00
Project: Berry Plastics
Grantee: Evansville
Year: 2009
Grant Amount: $3,000,000.00
Project: CEDS
Grantee: Vanderburgh County
Year: 2009
Grant Amount: $12,500.00
Total Vanderburgh Grant Amount: $6,012,500.00
WARRICK COUNTY
Project: Firefighting Vehicle
Grantee: Elberfeld
Year: 2006
Grant Amount: $130,000.00
Project: Historic Preservation
Grantee: Newburgh
Year: 2006
Grant Amount: $500,000.00
Project: Wastewater System Improvements
Grantee: Lynnville
Year: 2007
Grant Amount: $500,000.00
Project: I-69 Comprehensive Plan
Grantee: Warrick County
Year: 2008
Grant Amount: $50,000.00
Project: Elberfeld
Grantee: Warrick County
Year: 2009
Grant Amount: $878,737.00
Project: CEDS
Grantee: Warrick County
Year: 2009
Grant Amount: $12,500.00
Project: Sewer
Grantee: Chandler
Year: 2009
Grant Amount: $1,643,850.00
Project: Water
Grantee: Chandler
Year: 2009
Grant Amount: $3,834,328.00
Project: Stonehaven Sewer
Grantee: Warrick County
Year: 2009
Grant Amount: $600,000.00
Project: Downtown Plan
Grantee: Newburgh
Year: 2010
Grant Amount: $50,000.00
Project: Downtown Plan
Grantee: Boonville
Year: 2010
Grant Amount: $50,000.00
Project: Lighting Retro-Fit
Grantee: Warrick County
Year: 2010
Grant Amount: $83,000.00
Project: Stonehaven Sewer
Grantee: Warrick County
Year: 2010
Grant Amount: $500,000.00
Project: Community Corrections
Grantee: Warrick County
Year: 2006-2010
Grant Amount: $396,000.00
Total Warrick Grant Amount: $9,228,415.00
GIBSON COUNTY
Project: Urgent Need – Fire Station
Grantee: Ft.Branch-Union
Year: 2006
Grant Amount: $300,000.00
Project: Special Needs Facility (GCARC)
Grantee: Gibson County
Year: 2005
Grant Amount: $209,000.00
Project: Fire Station
Grantee: Somerville
Year: 2005
Grant Amount: $289,500.00
Project: Comprehensive Master Plan
Grantee: Fort Branch
Year: 2006
Grant Amount: $50,000.00
Project: Firefighting Vehicle
Grantee: Oakland City
Year: 2006
Grant Amount: $150,000.00
Project: Wastewater System Improvements
Grantee: Fort Branch
Year: 2007
Grant Amount: $500,000.00
Project: Comprehensive Master Plan
Grantee: Owensville
Year: 2007
Grant Amount: $48,600.00
Project: Special Needs Facility (GCARC)
Grantee: Princeton
Year: 2007
Grant Amount: $248,972.00
Project: I-69 Corridor
Grantee: Princeton
Year: 2007
Grant Amount: $50,000.00
Project: I-69 Comprehensive Plan
Grantee: Gibson
Year: 2007
Grant Amount: $50,000.00
Project: I-69 Comprehensive Plan
Grantee: Oakland City
Year: 2007
Grant Amount: $50,000.00
Project: Special Needs Facility (GCARC)
Grantee: Gibson County
Year: 2008
Grant Amount:$500,000.00
Project: Firefighting Vehicle
Grantee: Columbia Township
Year: 2008
Grant Amount: $140,000.00
Project: Firefighting Vehicle
Grantee: Francisco
Year: 2008
Grant Amount: $150,000.00
Project: Community Center Project
Grantee: Haubstadt
Year: 2008
Grant Amount: $465,000.00
Project: Comprehensive Master Plan
Grantee: Princeton
Year: 2008
Grant Amount: $50,000.00
Project: Toyota Boshoku – sewer
Grantee: Princeton
Year: 2008
Grant Amount: $450,000.00
Project: CEDS
Grantee: Gibson County
Year: 2009
Grant Amount: $12,500.00
Project: Special Needs Goodwill
Grantee: Gibson
Year: 2009
Grant Amount: $500,000.00
Project: Storm Water
Grantee: Oakland City
Year: 2009
Grant Amount: $35,000.00
Project: Water Improvements
Grantee: Princeton
Year: 2009
Grant Amount:$2,430,400.00
Project: 25% Match FEMA
Grantee: Hazleton
Year: 2009
Grant Amount: $7,608.36
Project: 25% Match FEMA
Grantee: Gibson County
Year: 2009
Grant Amount: $50,425.27
Project: Windsor Machines
Grantee: Gibson
Year: 2010
Grant Amount: $450,000.00
Project: Wastewater/Storm Plan
Grantee: Fort Branch
Year: 2010
Grant Amount: $40,000.00
Project: Downtown
Grantee: Owensville
Year: 2010
Grant Amount: $50,000.00
Project: Downtown
Grantee: Princeton
Year: 2010
Grant Amount: $50,000.00
Project: Park Plan
Grantee: Princeton
Year: 2010
Grant Amount: $30,000.00
Project: Park Plan
Grantee: Oakland Cty
Year: 2010
Grant Amount: $30,000.00
Project: Water Improvements
Grantee: Oakland City
Year: 2010
Grant Amount: $4,669,500.00
Project: Sewer Improvements
Grantee: Oakland City
Year: 2010
Grant Amount: $2,681,000.00
Total Vanderburgh Grant Amount: $14,737,505.63
POSEY COUNTY
Project: Downtown Revitalization
Grantee: Mt. Vernon
Year: 2005
Grant Amount: $50,000.00
Project: Community Center Project
Grantee: New Harmony
Year: 2005
Grant Amount: $500,000.00
Project: Wastewater System Improvements
Grantee: Cynthiana
Year: 2006
Grant Amount: $269,000.00
Project: Acquisition – CAPE Head Start
Grantee: Mt. Vernon
Year: 2006
Grant Amount: $257,250.00
Project: Comprehensive Master Plan
Grantee: New Harmony
Year: 2006
Grant Amount: $50,000.00
Project: Comprehensive Master Plan
Grantee: Mt. Vernon
Year: 2007
Grant Amount: $48,500.00
Project: Comprehensive Master Plan
Grantee: Poseyville
Year: 2007
Grant Amount: $50,000.00
Project: Water System Improvements
Grantee: Poseyville
Year: 2009
Grant Amount: $600,000.00
Project: CEDS
Grantee: Poseyville
Year: 2009
Grant Amount: $12,500.00
Project: Storm Water
Grantee: New Harmony
Year: 2009
Grant Amount: $35,000.00
Project: 25% Match FEMA
Grantee: Posey
Year: 2009
Grant Amount: $17,040.38
Project: Downtown Revitalization
Grantee: Mt. Vernon
Year: 2010
Grant Amount: $49,000.00
Project: Economic Development Plan
Grantee: Poseyville
Year: 2010
Grant Amount: $50,000.00
Project: Silo Project
Grantee: Mt. Vernon
Year: 2010
Grant Amount: $300,000.00
Total Posey Grant Amount: $2,288,290.38
TOTAL 4-COUNTY GRANT AMOUNT: $32,266,711.01
F.J.Reitz High School Class of 1960 50th Year Reunion
The Class of 1960 50th Reunion on OCTOBER 1, 2, and 3, 2010
The committee has been working and planning for months to make this milestone a memorable event. There are many who have never attended a class reunion. Our hope is that you will make an exception this year and come! We will have name tags with the picture from the yearbook attached so we can recognize each other. There will be opportunities for us to rehash past events and get in touch with people we have not seen in a while, maybe since 1960.
Friday, October 1, 2:00 pm. -midnight Burdette Park, Shelter #18 (directions at bottom of page 2) The shelter will be open at 2:00 for snacks and reminiscing with old friends (bring your own drinks)…come and go as you please. BBQ meal at 4:00 p.m. $6.00 per person. At 6:00 we’ll load the bus for those going to the Reitz vs. North football game. Game tickets ($5.00) at the gate. Reitz Alumni crew neck sweatshirts (optional) can be ordered to wear to the game where we will sit together in a reserved area. $16.00 each. Additional $3.00 for XXL and XXXL ($19.00)
Golf on your own at Helfrich or Howell Par 3. Get a group together and play a round.
For the non-golfers, another option: Tour of the Reitz Home… $7.50 per person (pay at the door)
Tours start at 11:00 a.m. – last tour starts at 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 2, we will gather at the West Haven Chalet, 5510 Booker Road (formerly West Haven Gun Club off of Red Bank Road) (directions at bottom of page 2)
6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Registration and cash bar
6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Buffet Dinner
7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Program and Pictures
8:30 p.m.-Midnight DJ
Dress is casual. $30 per person/$60 per couple
Sunday, October 3: 12:00 noon – Good Bye Brunch at Ri-Ra’s (on Riverside across from the casino). Order from the menu – pay waitress.
Please send your reservation(s) NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 to Bonnie Myers Aramowicz, 1011 Char-Lee Drive, Evansville, IN 47712.
If you are unable to attend the reunion, please consider sending a note and/or picture that will be included in a display for all to see. Tell us about yourself and your family.
Please send by
September 1 to Bonnie at the above address.
For your convenience, we are including the names and phone numbers of the west side and downtown hotels:
Baymont Inn & Suites 812-421-9773 (west side)
Fairfield Inn-West 812-429-0900 (west side)
Casino Aztar Hotel 812-433-4000 (downtown)
Holiday Inn Express 812-421-9773 (west side)
LeMerigot – 1-888-633-1770 (downtown)
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN OCTOBER!!
RESERVATION FORM
NAME:_______________________________________________________________________________
Last First Maiden
ADDRESS:____________________________________________________________________________
Street City State___________Zip_______________
EMAIL ADDRESS __________________________________________PHONE #_____________________
NAME OF SPOUSE/GUEST_________________________________________________________________
Number attending Friday meal at Burdette ______ @ $6.00 each $________
Number riding bus to football game _____ no cost
Number of sweatshirts $16 ea (XXL and XXXL – $19.00)
Sizes M_____ L_____ XL_____ XXL_____ XXXL_____ $________
I will attend Saturday night _____#of reservations @ $30 per person $________
I will attend Sunday brunch _____ # of reservations Pay waitress
The check for the reunion should be made payable to
“Reitz High School Class of 1960â€.
TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED $________
=====================================================================
A DVD or VHS (your choice) will be made of both evenings. It will also include 1960 Reitz trivia, music, and special effects. If you cannot attend the reunion and would like to be included in the video, send a picture of yourself and/or your family by September 1 to Bonnie Myers Aramowicz, 1011 Char-Lee Drive, Evansville, IN 47712. The cost of the DVD or VHS is $25.00 . A separate check should be made payable to Norma Minton for the video.
I would like a _____DVD ______VHS AMT. ENCLOSED $ ________
=====================================================================
Return the top portion and keep this part for future reference:
DIRECTIONS TO WEST HAVEN CHALET: From the Lloyd Expressway, go north on Red Bank Road, continue through the flashing light at Upper Mt. Vernon Road. Turn left on Booker Road. Watch for sign at Booker Road.
DIRECTIONS TO BURDETTE PARK SHELTER #18: The shelter house is at the top of Nurrenbern Road hill by the campground and the Discovery Lodge. However, the entrance road there is a one-way so you must enter through the main gate. Go to the right around the back of the parking lot by the pool. Follow the signs to Shelter #18.
THE TIME OF RECKONING HAS PASSED: Public Money Demands Public Disclosure
IS IT TRUE that the time of reckoning has passed on two critical projects …Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel committed public money to assist outside developers in renovating both the historical McCurdy Hotel condo project and the Executive Inn project? …that the Evansville Redevelopment Commission recently gave both project developers 60 days to get their financial situations in order? …that the 60 days are behind us? …that it is time for Mayor Weinzapfel, the Chairman of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission and Tom Barnett, Director of the Evansville Department of Metropolitan Development, to call a joint news conference to announce the status of both projects? …that it is time for the laid-back, conservative, hardworking and dedicated Evansville taxpayers to demand accountability on the status of the above projects? …that if there were favorable deals on the table that the announcements would have already have drawn headlines?….that public money demands public disclosure?…..that no public disclosure has been made since the 60 days extension as granted by the Evansville Redevelopment Commission has lapsed for both projects? …… that the government of Evansville has a legal responsibility to disclose the status of these critical projects?
Excerpts and Updates from a Summer of Accountability
By the City-County Observer staff:
There are two construction projects going on in Evansville that are absolutely vital to the viability of the downtown as a place to go for entertainment and sustainable living. Both projects are now stymied by the failure of certain developers to obtain financing to begin their projects. Here is an overview of these two projects that are both now beyond the 60 day extensions granted by the Evansville Redevelopment Commission for disclosing their sources of financing and set a date to begin both projects..
Arena/Centre Hotel: The looming shell of the south wing of the former Executive Inn begs the question: Will the existing hotel be renovated – and if so, when – or will the Big E and the adjacent parking garage be demolished. It is rumored that the hotel and the parking garage are destined for the wrecking ball due to structural problems. Rumor has it that Browning Investments may not be successful in obtaining financing to complete the hotel project, and that they could basically leave town with an extra $300,000 golden parachute for this failure.
The City-County Observer is extremely concerned about the future of the Arena and The Centre without a convention class hotel in place to accommodate the thousands of out-of-town visitors that always come to town for such events. As you may remember, in 2007 at a fanfare news conference, Mayor Weinzapfel announced a 4-Star branded hotel with a luxury restaurant as a keystone anchoring the Centre and the new Arena as the place to be for regional entertainment. Are there any cities with an Arena and a Convention Center that function without a hotel? Let’s cross our fingers that Evansville does not become the first city in America to have two state-of-the-art venues (the new Arena and The Centre) separated by a rotting shell of a dilapidated hotel. Proceeding with the demolition of the Executive Inn and the construction of an Arena without having the financing in place for a new hotel was a financial tragedy that should never have been allowed to go forward. With all of the bankers and financially sophisticated people on the Evansville Redevelopment Commission, it is baffling how approval to go forward with the Arena was granted for less than a complete financial solution in place. This oversight is the equivalent of building a house in the country without securing financing for a septic system or a road to get to the house. One thing is certain, if there is no hotel where the rotting shell now stands, the financial performance of both the new Arena and the Centre will suffer.
McCurdy: As successful as the loft program seems to have allegedly been in creating approximately 100 residential dwellings on Main Street, the McCurdy condo project has been stalled for the past couple of years for lack of financing. Estimates for completing the proposed 80 rental units are below the market rate for refurbishing that building. Presently the McCurdy sits empty with windows open, making it a home to pigeons and bats. Speculation is that it will soon look like its next-door neighbor, The River House. In our opinion the McCurdy will become the next River House if the financing to begin construction is not secured right now. It is also important to point out that the City and the Redevelopment Commission has put out hundreds of thousands of dollars on this project to date without tangible results.
As the demographics of downtown Evansville are not sufficient to attract a grocery store, a hardware store, or a gas station, these new units are vital to getting the population of downtown to a point where sustainable urban living is possible. Even these units are not sufficient to get the numbers in place but the continuation of the repopulation of downtown Evansville must continue.
The rush to begin the arena was to create a photo-op opening that would coincide with the kick off of the campaign for the statewide democratic primary election of 2012. That photo will not be so flattering with the Big E in its current state in the background. The hotel was to be the only building in the entertainment complex that actually stayed on the tax role. A hotel is also expected to provide significant revenue to the TIF district that is being counted on to pay the interest on the bonds issued to build the Arena.
As the old saying goes, “it is time to perform or get off the potâ€. What is the next plan? Will there be another 60 days of extension or will there be a search for another developer? There is no extension on when the public should be made aware of the status of these projects. That time is now!!
If you too would like to send a message to the officials who must certainly have those answers please direct them to the email addresses of Mayor Weinzapfel (jweinzapfel@evansvillegis.com) and Tom Barnett. (tbbarnett@evansvilledmd.com)
VANDERBURGH COUNTY TREASURER’S OFFICE CUTS BUDGET 11.9%
Vanderburgh County Treasurer Rick Davis announced to the Vanderburgh County Council on Wednesday that he has slashed his proposed 2011 budget by 11.9%. Davis, in his first term as County Treasurer, credited his idea for printing property tax bills in-house rather than through a third-party vendor as the main reason his budget has been trimmed by $75,994 from 2010 to 2011. In five years, Davis told the council the project would amount to at least $82,000 in savings for just the bill printing line item.
Davis said the line item in his budget for bill printing is only $15,000 for 2012, $50,000 less than what was budgeted each of the two previous years, and $40,000 less than 2008. The County Council will conduct budget hearings in earnest on Aug. 17 and Aug. 18 beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Davis’ presentation also detailed how his office has increased productivity not only for his office, but other county offices as well. Davis credited the County Council’s approval for the purchase of two heavy duty printers producing 6,000 combined prints per hour, as well as equipment that folds and inserts documents into envelopes at a speed of 4,300 per hour. Davis had predicted to the Council that once the printers and folder/inserter arrived at the Civic Center that he would be able to help the Auditor’s Office and the Assessor’s Office print, fold and insert documents into envelopes for mass mailings the county offices perform on an annual basis. But once the equipment arrived, he was surprised to learn that other offices, including the Election Office and the Sheriff’s Office, were interested in using the equipment, too. Davis noted that his office is now planning to help the Sheriff’s Office print, fold and insert 10,000 Tax Warrants into envelopes soon. He also said his office helped the Election Office print every poll book that was used during the Primary Election on May 4, saving that office countless hours of work.
Davis told the Council that new property tax billing software has also enabled his office to eliminate one person from his staff at a savings of $31,300 in 2010 alone, a savings that will add up year after year.
Davis said the in-house bill project did not come as a sacrifice to the taxpayers as far as service is concerned. He noted his office increased the amount of time taxpayers had to pay their bills by 50% — from an 18-day average for seven straight years – to 27 days’ notice this year. Davis said he had a personal goal of giving taxpayers at least 30 days’ notice in 2011.
County Council President Russ Lloyd Jr. commended Davis for his printing efforts, and noted that he was pleased that the money that was spent on the equipment and supplies for the project all came locally, rather than going out of state.
Davis also thanked the County Council for backing his proposal from the onset. The County Council approved spending $84,278.15 in startup costs for the project. The bulk of that money was spent on the folder/inserter, which cost $56,708, and $20,000 for the two printers and enough toner cartridges to print about 3 years’ worth of bills. Representatives from Southern Business Machines, an Evansville company that sold the equipment to the County Treasurer’s Office, were on hand and told the Council that the equipment should last about 10 years, but with proper maintenance may last even longer.
“Bank on Evansville†Accepts U.S. Treasury Invitation
(EVANSVILLE, IN) – Bank on Evansville representatives will be in Washington, D.C. tomorrow to participate in a two-day summit, hosted by the U.S. Department of Treasury and the National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education, and Families, to discuss practices from the “Bank On†field. Evansville was selected to attend this invitation-only event because of its leadership in promoting access to the financial mainstream for underserved residents.
Patty Avery, who helped launch Bank on Evansville as Program Manager, and Emily Baxter, Community Impact Manager for the United Way of Southwestern Indiana, will be representing the City of Evansville at the summit which will provide opportunities for local, state and national experts to share information about “Bank On†practices and lessons learned. This information will also help shape national policy to promote financial access and financial education for low-to moderate income families.
“I am gratified that ‘Bank on Evansville’ is being called upon, once again, to share the lessons learned as we implemented the program,†said Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel. “Bank On†has been able to help people in our community keep more of their hard-earned cash instead of paying high interest rates to check cashers. Our hope is that by helping other cities, many more people will realize how they can benefit by joining the financial mainstream.â€
Evansville was the third city in the nation and the first in Indiana to implement the “Bank on Cities†model. Our program helped shape how the State of Indiana and other cities across the state are implementing their “Bank On†initiatives. We were also tapped to help with “Bank On†launches in Ohio and Kentucky. In addition, the National League of Cities reports that Evansville achieved the fastest program launch and we are pace setters when it comes to financial education.
“Bank on Evansville†was developed as a response to the high cost of basic financial services for individuals and families who don’t have a checking or savings account. The program’s goal is to measurably improve the lives of our City’s low-to-moderate income residents through better access to the financial mainstream and financial education. Bank on Evansville accounts are low cost/no cost, have no minimum balance and offer a second chance for people that have had previous trouble with banking; fraud is the exception. We have 15 financial partners- both banks and credit unions- in Evansville.
Initiated in June 2008, Bank on Evansville opened 1,139 accounts in its first year. Our two year goal was to open 1,200 accounts.
Congressman Brad Ellsworth Responds to Editor on H.Con.Res. 274
Thank you for contacting me with your views on H.Con.Res. 274. I appreciate your comments, and I welcome this opportunity to share my thoughts.
Faith has long been a part of our national history, starting with the Declaration of Independence that recognized our “Creator” as the source of individuals’ rights. Our national motto, “In God We Trust” is inscribed above the Speaker’s rostrum in the House of Representatives, and is a daily reminder of the vital role faith has played on our nation’s leaders and citizens.
On June 15, 2010, Congressman Randy Forbes of Virginia introduced H.Con.Res. 274, reaffirming “In God We Trust” as our official national motto and encouraging the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions. Shortly after its introduction, H.Con.Res was referred to House Judiciary Committee. Although I am not a member of this committee, please be assured I look forward to voting in favor of this bill when it comes to the House floor for consideration.
Thanks again for taking the time to share your views with me. If you would like to learn more about my positions on issues important to you or receive regular updates on developments in Congress, please visit my Online Office at www.ellsworth.house.gov and sign up for my e-Newsletter.
Sincerely,
Brad Ellsworth