“It’s exciting news,” said Shan Sheridan the head of Clinton County Economic Development.
Sheridan had foreshadowed the announcement of the $3 million federal grant from the Economic Development Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, during the Monday, August 10, 2020, Frankfort City Council meeting.
He was waiting on the official announcement and this afternoon, Wednesday, August 12, 2020, it happened.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3 million grant to Clinton County, Indiana, to make wastewater infrastructure improvements needed to support business growth throughout the region. The EDA grant, to be matched with $5.1 million in local funds, is expected to create 150 jobs, retain 650 jobs, and generate $37 million in private investment.
Sheridan explained why this grant was able to be awarded to Clinton County.
“We have been part of the regional partnership (North Central Indiana Regional Partnership) for about 13 years, since 2007,” said Sheridan.
He continued, “the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy was created in 2015. The only reason that we could receive that grant, which is going to be the wastewater infrastructure project to I-65, is because of the comprehensive economic development strategy that we’re part of.”
The Region consists of six counties; Fulton, Howard, Cass, Tipton, Clinton, and Miami.
The award announced today is the largest ever awarded to a member of the Regional Partnership and the first ever awarded by the EDA in Clinton County.
“It will be the largest grant that our Region has received. It is also the largest grant that Clinton County has received, actually the only grant that Clinton County has ever received from EDA,” Sheridan added.
Sheridan told the Council members the cost for Clinton County residents to be part of the Regional association is approximately 77 cents per residents with the cost shared between the City of Frankfort and County. That cost equates to around $26,000 per year.
“We have broken it down to 77 cents per constituent every year based upon a little under 34,000 County members. The County pays $13,000 and the City pays $13,000,” Sheridan explained.
“President Trump is working diligently every day to improve our country’s infrastructure so communities can facilitate job creation and success,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “This new and reliable wastewater system will provide Clinton County with the necessary infrastructure to attract new businesses and accelerate economic growth.”
“Working with communities and regions to support their locally-driven strategies to provide businesses with the necessary infrastructure to grow and thrive is a major focus for EDA,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “We are pleased to support Clinton County’s efforts to increase the capacity of their water infrastructure to support economic expansion.”
“This investment in strengthening our wastewater facilities will create jobs, promote businesses, and help the Clinton County community succeed,” said Governor Eric Holcomb. “This project is a great example of how government and business work together to get the job done.”
