Before the meeting, Lawrence Loehmer gave a presentation to the PCED about his downtown Monterey business hardware and farm supply store, and the many services it provides beyond hardware supply.

Earlier, he had been working in a factory since early 1984 when, in 1996, he purchased the store from the previous owners. He considered it as a “retirement project” and intended to continue at the factory. Following a change of ownership and lean times at the factory, he left and took the hardware on full-time.

Suggesting that most failures in business occur because of a lack of confidence, Loehmer explained that rather than fail because of flat sales, he found opportunities to diversify the business, including irrigation and generator installation and service; small-scale drainage-tile sales; and, in the wake of the closure of the mini-mart in Monterey, bread, milk, and other basic groceries. His sales have increased every year, despite the flat hardware sales. In the winter, he also carries wood pellets for stoves. In addition to the store, Loehmer has mini-storage units in town, and he farms. He spoke of plans for agricultural innovations that he intends to implement on his land in 2013.

As Loehmer's presentation drew to a close, discussion ensued regarding the deleterious effects of the closing of Monterey Elementary School on his business and the town generally, plus the 2012 drought and its ramifications for local agricultural, the irrigation/road-closure crisis that occurred earlier in the summer, and northern Indiana’s underground-water wealth.

The PCED board's regular meeting followed, with the following items covered:

Executive Director’s Report
Strategic Relationships: PCED director Nathan Origer reported on various meetings attended and activities undertaken in June and July, including an open-house celebrating the new truck-parts store at Link Environmental.

He attended the open-house dinner in Francesville hosted by Tate & Lyle (T&L), new owners of the Overmyer elevator. He noted that because the railroad on the west side is operated by CSX, T&L’s Lafayette facilities are along NS lines, and the two rail companies rarely cooperate easily, the company is not likely to rely on rail service, unless they eventually ship cross-country in bulk tanks. Board member David Broad inquired as to why and how the company chose Francesville Origer responded that they had already done business with the Overmyers in the past, and the site not far from their plants.

The second quarterly newsletter was distributed in mid-July.

Infrastructure: In early June, negotiations with Plymouth Tube regarding the proposed substation continued; Hot Mill general manager Gavin Ford and the Town of Winamac were able to reach a tentative agreement, and Ford was to present the proposal to his superiors later in the summer for their approval before any official agreement could be made. Origer reported that if a formal agreement is reached among the company, town, and county, then the substation could be operational by spring of 2013, and then previously discussed expansions at Plymouth Tube would become feasible. The substation could also provide for additional future expansions.

The Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals scheduled public hearings later in the month. 

Origer reported on frequent communications with Frank Patton, of Great Lakes Basin, LLC, regarding potential railroad development in northwestern Indiana.

With $51,000 awarded in grant money, Winamac will pave the Panhandle Pathway from the southern corporate limits to the depot. If a Safe Routes to School grant is awarded in October, then some of that money would go toward further lengthening the trail, too.

Business Retention/Expansion and Entrepreneurial Development: The Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) committee unanimously recommended that the commissioners approve a $132,000 loan request to T&S Recycle, LLC. They did so, pending re-zoning of the property to be purchased. If the loan is made, the RLF’s balance will be about $26,500, with an estimated year-end balance of about $70,000.

Origer reported on a productive, informative meeting with new GalFab president Greg Podell. He d have a follow-up meeting with Podell and Jan Bailey of Ivy Tech Corporate College, regarding workforce development. Discussion ensued.

Marketing: The director attended the monthly Rural-and-Rustic meeting; met with Jim Walton of Brand Acceleration regarding the regional Website; and conducted a statewide mass distribution of local and regional tourism brochures.

Professional Development: Origer reported on attending the Indiana Economic Development Association’s summer conference; Congressman Donnelly’s non-profit workshop in South Bend with Jacki Frain of Pulaski County Human Services; the Community Foundation-/Extension–sponsored talk on agricultural land value at the county fair; and the “Supporting Healthy Downtowns” workshop hosted by the Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA). Board members Andrew Fritz and Dave Zeltwanger added their thoughts about the talk at the fair, praising speaker Chris Hurt of Purdue, and elaborating on the information that he provided about land values and this year’s drought. Zeltwanger explained that Hurt argued that the market’s response to the drought is masking what will happen with commodity prices, and that land values will level off in response to commodity-price leveling.

Winamac Clerk-Treasurer Melanie Burger, and Francesville resident Darlene Mellon, who has expressed interest in establishing a Main Street committee, attended the IMPA event with Origer. All were pleased with the workshop. Origer suggested the possibility of a countywide Main Street group - better to leverage assets and volunteer efforts.

Other: The steering committee for the hospital’s community health needs assessment met to review a draft survey, to schedule future meetings, and to brainstorm ideas for improved healthcare access in the county. The director will be compiling demographic data prior to the next meeting.

Workforce Development: Origer attended a forum focused on the development of the state’s five-year Strategic Workforce Investment Plan, at the Center of Workforce Innovations in Valparaiso. Board member Becky Anspach inquired about the status of WorkOne in Pulaski County, noting that after multiple phone calls to the Winamac and Knox offices, she received a response from someone in Gary. Discussion ensued, and Broad, who serves on the regional workforce board, explained that, as he
understands the plan, Winamac office hours would remain limited, but not vacated, as Mrs. Anspach had been led to believe. Origer said he would look into the matter.

Pulaski County’s unemployment rate was 7.0 percent in June, up from 6.2 percent in May, but still second-best in the region. The director estimated a real unemployment rate of 8.05 percent or 12.44 percent, between 550 and 845 out-of-work and underemployed potential workers, depending on which calculation is employed.

Financial Report: At the end of May, $62,883.83 remained in PCED’s budget. The 2013 budget was briefly discussed. The entire CEDIT Fund had a balance of about $1.965 million, about $1.9 million of which was not appropriated. Discussion ensued regarding CEDIT expenditures for purposes other than direct economic-development operations and projects. The balance of the Donation Fund was $2,333.56, and the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) had a balance of just more than $150,000. All borrowers continue to repay on time.

Priority List and Monthly Calendar: Forthcoming events on the director’s schedule for August were reviewed. Of note were those mentioned above; a welding class committee meeting; and a presentation to the Winamac Kiwanis by Ron Gifford of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation and the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center who made a presentation earlier in the year as part of the Year-of-the-Entrepreneur programming.

Board member Jim Fleury added that Monterey Days will take place over Labor-Day Weekend and provided some detail about the festivities.

Old Business
Ivy-Tech update: The director reiterated that, for now, Ivy Tech has shelved plans for a satellite site in Winamac, citing statewide enrollment and fiscal issues, and significantly fewer Pulaski-County residents enrolled at Logansport than had applied for admission. Kokomo Vice-Chancellor/Logansport Dean Kevin Bostic had expressed belief that successfully holding a class in Winamac over a number of semesters could show that future investment would be worthwhile for Ivy Tech. Currently, one freshman seminar will be held in Winamac in the fall term, and Origer will continue to work with Ivy Tech to find a suitable location, with the Pulaski Memorial Hospital board room being one option under consideration.

2013 Budget Proposal: The director was scheduled to appear before the County Council on Aug. 14.

Brownfields Assessment (KIRPC): The director reported that it seems this project will move forward and requested that members inform him of any locations that they would like to see considered. The old service station at the curve on US 35 across from the Winamac Plaza was mentioned.

2012: Year of the Entrepreneur: Origer expressed his pleasure with the Economic Summit and the run-up programing. He thanked the members who participated in the Summit and asked for reflections from the member. He further encouraged the board to consider how PCED could build upon the successes and what programming could be repeated or added in the future. Zeltwanger encouraged “hav[ing] another excuse to have these events”, remarking that they were beneficial and need to be promoted and repeated for the benefit of the small-business community.

OSHA 30 training: Discussion resumed regarding hosting OSHA 30 training, provided by Heritage Safety, in Pulaski County. It was the pleasure of the board that PCED proceed with this project. Pending approval of the county commissioners, PCED will subsidize the costs as an incentive to local companies to take advantage of this opportunity, with PCED’s contribution not to exceed 20% of total costs or $2,000. It was expected that, for a twenty-person course, costs would be approximately $10,000, though Heritage Safety had expressed willingness to work to keep costs low. The director will confirm dates with Heritage Safety and then work to find a location and to promote the opportunity to in-county businesses.

Committees: Origer reiterated his interest in the Tourism Committee’s producing a new Pulaski-County tourism brochure. Discussion ensued regarding tourism attractions, particularly those in the vicinity of Monterey. 

Fleury mentioned log jams that had been limiting river access, as well as the National Register designation received for the bandstand at Kloeckner Park.

The director mentioned inchoate plans to incorporate Woodruff’s Bridge (former State Road 29’s crossing of the Tippecanoe River, south of Winamac) into a short spur off of the Panhandle Pathway.

Regarding the Small Business/Entrepreneurial Development Committee, Origer expressed his desire to actively involve the members in any further Year-of-the-Entrepreneur programming. Board members and the Youth Retention committee should play a role in the proposed student business plan competition, which he briefly discussed. The director had nothing to report regarding the PC-CARE Committee. Zeltwanger mentioned the Illinois-based business that Origer was working to bring to the Francesville area. The director explained that he had been looking for a viable property, but had yet to find a workable location for the business; Zeltwanger suggested relying on a Francesville-area real estate agent to help with any cold-calling. Discussion ensued.

ITC (MidWest Indiana)/Northwest Indiana Forum: Returning to this topic, the director noted that one source of frustration with current arrangements is that a good portion of ITC meetings is devoted to updates from the Lafayette area workforce development office and Small Business Development Center, whereas Pulaski County is part of the northwestern region for both entities. Although he sometimes obtains helpful insight or information, programming from these groups and certain workforce development scholarships are not open to residents of Pulaski County. However, membership in the group does also
permit for additional networking and marketing opportunities. Any decision regarding dual membership or picking one over the other could be delayed until after the county council reviews the proposed 2013 budget.

New Business

New Market Tax Credits for Northwest Indiana: Origer explained that Frank Hoffman, a partner at Krieg DeVault and a leader in the field of New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) in Indiana, had contacted him about serving on the advisory board for a group he is attempting to establish to open the seven counties of northwestern Indiana (the six member-counties of the Northwest Indiana Forum, plus Pulaski) to NMTC. He provided a brief overview of how NMTC provides a federal-tax incentive to develop in qualifying low-income Census tracts that developers may otherwise neglect. The incentive can be as high as thirty-nine percent, and the success record and ability of the NMTC program to leverage private investment has been quite impressive nationwide.

He noted that, per the 2010 Census, two Pulaski County tracts qualify: that including and immediately surrounding Winamac, and that containing northwestern and north-central Pulaski County. Projects that could be eligible for NMTC incentives include industrial-land acquisition and industrial infrastructure, industrial development, and certain retail projects. He included a substantial appendix of NMTC information with the meeting packet. He encouraged the board to review the materials and promised to report further once the group had first met.

Great Lakes Basin, LLC/Future railroad development: Origer reported on the conversations that he had had with Frank Patton, who has met with various railroad, financial, and state-government officials about building a “Chicago bottleneck bypass” rail line in tandem with the proposed Illiana Expressway, and then building farther east to provide rail linkage through northwestern Indiana that could include connections with existing rails in Starke, Pulaski, and LaPorte counties. Discussion ensued.

Welding class: The director reported that the welding class committee had met to discuss the future of the program, particularly in re-fiscal sustainability. The primary question is whether the program is valuable enough to justify its costs. The position of the board is that continuing the program is worthwhile, but perhaps the curricula could be altered, with local-industry input, better to meet specific welding needs in the area, and that other skills training could perhaps be provided.