JAN VOILES
News of Honda’s official announcement Wednesday that its newest plant will be located in Decatur County met with favorable reaction among Rush County civic leaders.
“It will have an economic impact on Decatur and Rush counties as well as surrounding counties. It’s going to be a tremendous boost,” Tom Barnes, Rush County commissioner, said. “It will definitely effect Rush County.”
Since his son was involved in the land acquisition procedure, the local government official and businessman knew about the purchasing of land for the project.
“There was an extreme amount of work involved,” he said.
The benefits of the new industry won’t stop at the county line, according to Barnes.
“This is not limited by county lines,” he said. “The greatest potential is spin off jobs. I truly believe it will effect quite a few people.”
He noted the potential for growth in real estate values and retail sales and also foresaw an impact on the school corporations and hospitals.
Greg Griffin, executive director of the Rush County Economic and Community Development Corporation, also forecast benefits for the area.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for Decatur County but also for the whole southeastern Indiana region,” he said. “Rush County being so close to this facility, we have an opportunity here to attract additional suppliers and vendors that will be supplying Honda motor company.”
“We need to position ourselves to take advantage of the significant potential investment in this area,” he said.
Paul Barada, president and founder of Barada Associates and nationally-recognized authority on pre-employment screening, predicted a favorable effect for Rush County.
“From the standpoint of the economic impact on Rush County this is a once-in-a-century opportunity we can’t allow to pass us by. That’s more than a lifetime,” he added. He gave as an example the area of housing.
“We should be talking to home builders now about housing developments south of Rushville,” he noted. “Also we need to position ourselves to attract companies that will provide goods and services to Honda.”
“If they are going to hire more than 1,500 people, they can’t all come
from Decatur County,” he continued, explaining that county has a low
unemployment rate. “Some employed people will apply and that will
open up their jobs.”
Mary Ann Bridges, as Heart of Rushville executive director and
mother of Greensburg police officer Brendan Bridges, had a double
interest in the announcement. “I’m thrilled for Decatur County,” she
elated. “I’m hoping there will be benefits to Rushville and Rush
County will get some of the spin off.”
“Any time this happens it’s a benefit. We’re always happy for the
ones that get that kind of development and we hope we can share in
their good news,” she said.
Pam Leisure, Rush County Chamber of Commerce was optimistic.
“The addition of the Honda plant to Greensburg and Decatur County
is a huge boost to the Southeastern Indiana region,” she said. “The
Rush County Chamber of Commerce is excited about the potential
secondary development, which will undoubtedly affect the entire
region due to the location of the Honda motor company!”
“A plant such as this will help strengthen the region’s workforce by
providing good-paying jobs, more housing by attracting people to
live in the area and help create economic prosperity and stability to
the area,” she said. “We would like to congratulate Decatur County
and welcome Honda to southeastern Indiana!”
Rushville Mayor Bob Bridges sees the development as the fruition of
a vision. “The Mayor’s office and the City of Rushville are pleased to
welcome Honda to Greensburg and southeastern Indiana,” he said.
“With the location of this industry to the southeast region of Indiana
we are making a commitment and a statement. That statement is
that we are now being recognized in the economic development
arena.”
“When we started the I-74 corridor group a few years ago, this was
our goal to bring economic prosperity and growth to this region of
Indiana, which has been overshadowed by the major metropolitan
areas in the past. This vision is now coming to fruition,” the
Rushville Mayor noted. “Rush County is in full support of economic
growth because we fully understand what is good for a neighboring
community is also good for Rushville and Rush County.”
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