If the Boone County Economic Development Corp.’s request for $100,000 is approved by county officials at budget hearings this month, Commissioner Marc Applegate wants it to work harder at bringing higher-paying jobs to the county.
Applegate chastised the composition of the EDC board during a presentation by agency executive director Molly Whitehead Tuesday, during a presentation about the EDC’s accomplishments over the last two years.
“We’re here to assess those companies that hopefully will increased assessed valuation, and provide employment,” said Whitehead, who was named EDC director in August.
“I’m a big proponent of economic development,” Applegate said. “I like to hear you say you’d like to get some higher paying jobs.”
“One thing that bothers me is the composition of the board,” Applegate said. Some are developers, others work for engineering firms, “who directly benefit from any type of job coming into the county,” he said.
“I personally have a problem with that,” he said. “It’s good to have funding from outside sources, but I wish there were some way we could change that.”
Poverty is an issue in Boone County, Applegate said, noting that at one Lebanon school 70 percent of students qualify for free or reduced price lunches.
“It’s the type of jobs you have,” Applegate said. “They don’t have health insurance.” Too many workers can’t afford good housing on the minimum wage salaries they receive.
“I used to serve on that board, so I understand the issues,” Applegate said. “There’s probably nothing you can do about it at this point, but I just wanted to express that I have a problem with it.”
Applegate praised firms that do give back to the community, and stressed those are the types of businesses that the EDC should attempt to bring to the county.
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