Local economic development officials provided updates on their work Wednesday night at the Madison City Council meeting.
Trevor Crafton, executive director of the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the events the organization has hosted over the year, including Soup, Stew, Chili and Brew. Crafton said nearly 6,500 people attended the seven-hour event.
Crafton also outlined a new entrepreneurial program with several area economic development, business groups and the Hanover College Business Scholars Program.
He said that some students with entrepreneurial ideas would be able to be mentored and use space at the Venture Out Business Center to get their ideas off the ground. The program will also provide a mentorship with other business leaders in the community, he said.
Jefferson County Industrial Development Corp. Executive Director Nathan Hadley addressed the organization's successes this year. JCIDC has received 38 leads for new businesses in the last year with more coming in each day, he said. But of the 38 leads, Jefferson County only had suitable sites for two of the leads, Hadley said.
He said the county continues to struggle with a lack of available buildings for modern manufacturing. Ceiling heights often need to be more than 30 feet, he said, but most available buildings do not meet the requirement.
Hadley said JCIDC continues to work with local schools to address workforce needs that could be filled by local residents.
The organization also continues to support middle and high school programs in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Hadley said those programs could help to "build a pipeline of qualified workers" for local industry.
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