The Marshall County Commissioners heard from MCEDC President and CEO Greg Hildebrand in their Tuesday meeting with an update on his office’s activities.
Hildebrand told the Commissioners that Marshall County saw over $50 million in capital investments in the past year that resulted in $9 million in extra payroll. He reported that the average wage in Marshall County according to the most recent figures was $24.12 an hour with the state average at $28.90 and the national average at $34.90. Unemployment in the county is at 4 percent, with Indiana at 4.1 percent and the nation at 4.2 percent.
Hildebrand said that the county currently had unfilled jobs and that talent attraction was the biggest concern of local employers. He said that finding workers for entry-level jobs was not difficult but that companies were in need of workers with special talents, such as accountants and engineers, with engineers being the most needed.
The MCEDC continues to be involved with state projects which include the U.S. 31 and 30 Coalition and how the renovation of those highways affects business in Marshall County. The MCEDC continues to work with the Marshall County Career Innovation Center on developing programs to train local adults and students in skills in demand for the workplace.
Commissioner Jesse Bohannon asked Hildebrand to provide reports to the Commissioners and also asked him to do the same for the Marshall County Council, and Hildebrand said his plan was to provide quarterly reports to each. Along those same lines, he also stated that the County would like to provide financial support to the MCEDC on a quarterly basis instead of the entirety being paid once a year.
Bohannon went on to say that he felt with the county’s investment of $150,000 to the MCEDC that, the organization should have more “financial transparency,” asking if the corporation received any other financial support from groups or organizations other than the county and county municipalities.
Bohannon cited that the MCEDC had “put a lot of effort” into the Invenergy solar project and asked if there was conditional money involved.
Hildebrand said that there were private investors providing funds and that their logos were displayed on the MCEDC website. He said that in his time at the corporation, he did not engage in or believe in “pay to play” for help on a project and that his aim was to see Marshall County succeed.
The Commissioners will meet again on Feb. 3 at 8:30 a.m.
