Marshall County now has representation on a board that hopes to attract and retain population in Northern Indiana.
A Regional Development Authority has been formed in Marshall County, along with St. Joseph and Elkhart counties to oversee potential grant funds of $42-million over two years. It’s part of the Regional Cities Initiative overseen by the state which has identified population loss as a threat to economic growth.
Jerry Chavez with Marshall County Economic Development says the next phase in the RDA’s growth is to appoint a board.
“It’s a five member board that oversees and communicates that particular activity,” says Chavez. “If Northern Indiana as a region is selected, we have an opportunity to receive $42-million to oversee that project. They’ll be a guiding governance board.”
There are eight RDA’s vying for the grant funds, meaning there is no guarantee that any of the 18 projects on the list could be completed.
Nonetheless, the committee made up of five representatives would make decisions on how to best use the funds should they be received. In order to best represent Marshall County, Chavez recommended the appointment of John DeSalle of Hoosier Racing Tire in Plymouth.
Chavez says the company has an interest locally as well as internationally.
“It has that drive in terms of a young population, young engineers, young people on the technology side to keep business going forward and keep business very competitive,” says Chavez.
The Marshall County Commissioners approved the recommendation, unanimously.
Elkhart County is expected to make an appointment to the committee on Tuesday. In order to better work with the RDA, the Commissioners also gave President Kevin Overmeyer the ability to sign frequent and recurring documents the RDA sends to Marshall County for approval.
