EDC Annual Meeting Serves Up Optimism

Joe Hornaday

The annual meeting of the Greensburg Decatur County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) was held on Tuesday, and subsumed presentations from two local businesses that had benefited from the development group.

The meeting was led by outgoing EDC Board president David Fry and EDC executive director Vicki Kellerman. Fry had served as president for two years, and at the end of the meeting, Chris Bower was named as the new president.

While the EDC works to keep jobs local, pick up the tax base and, in the current economy, keep local heads above water, Fry explained that much of the EDC’s work goes on behind the scenes, and the results are not always immediately visible.

“We’re positioned as well as we could be,” Fry said.

He added that without the EDC, another city or county would be grabbing for any of the new businesses and new jobs. The establishment of the land development account, Fry said, was an important tool that could be used by the EDC to make projects shovel ready and keep property viable for future businesses. Fry added that when he came on board with the EDC, Kellerman was working alone. Eventually, she began work with Lisa Deck, the EcO15 coordinator.

“We are very fortunate to have them in these positions,” Fry said.

The highlight of the annual meeting involved presentations from two local business that had utilized a revolving loan fund brought to the area by the EDC, which was established to allow smaller businesses and industries to do things that they might not ordinarily be able to do, Kellerman said. Those businesses were HighPoint Orchard and the Westport Busted Knuckle Garage.

Owner and operator Jim Ponsler explained that the Westport Busted Knuckle Garage had opened up in October of last year and has one full-time employee. Through the grant and the EDC, Ponsler said, he was able to diversify for customers and purchase new tools, like the Genisys Diagnostic Scanning tool.

“I’m appreciative of the assistance we got from (the EDC),” Ponsler said.

Randy Cyman, co-owner of the HighPoint Orchard, was at the annual meeting and said that he had worked to apply for a grant in January of 2009. He was approved in the amount of $50,000 a few months later. The money is being used to renovate a barn on the property, which will eventually be utilized to accommodate 155 total guests. The estimated completion date for the new offering at HighPoint Orchard is September of this year. Cyman also expressed his thanks to the EDC.

EcO15 coordinator Lisa Deck briefed the group on the things her organization was doing, including the “Dream !t Do !t program and the Decatur County Plan. Deck explained that the plan began when implementation started on the Broadband project for the Decatur County Schools system. Fibers are being placed into the ground for the upcoming school year, Deck noted. The new system will enable approximately four times the capabilities that the old program had. Project Lead the Way had also implemented pre-engineering and bio-med courses at three schools, and Deck said that a task force has been assembled to examine and discuss the needs of the Greensburg Learning Center. Deck added that her organization had recently received a $25,000 grant through “Bring It Home,” which will begin creating Internet “hot spots” in rural Decatur County areas. Work with ETC will be necessary, and Deck said that she hopes to develop an ambassador program with local youth to lead and teach others about technology. She noted that Decatur County was only the second in the state to receive the grant.

Don Schilling took to the podium to brief the guests on the global climate change bill, a portion of which concerns cap and trade legislation. Schilling said the cap and trade part of the bill will be affecting lots of things with its limits on carbon dioxide. There exists no commercial technology to accomplish what the bill mandates, Schilling said. He added that he believes the Midwest will be punished the most. Schilling encouraged everyone who is concerned about it to contact their legislators and representatives, because an increase effect on electricity costs are likely.

At the meeting, guests were given an income and expense report from the EDC for the fiscal year 2008. According to the EDC, the net income was about $270,776.43. Total expenses amounted to about $256,792.35, creating a net income of about $13,984.08.

New EDC Board president Chris Bower said that Decatur County and Greensburg will be able to benefit when the economy turns around before adjourning the meeting.

“Please continue your generous support of the EDC,” Bower said.

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