BROOKVILLE — Novel ideas were part of the 55-page Franklin County Strategic Economic Development Plan that the county’s redevelopment commission studied Oct. 30.
The plan was completed by Jim Kinnett II, Kinnett Consulting Group, Lawrenceburg, president, who interviewed 86 county residents in early 2015. Having lively discussions about the county’s future “was probably the most fun part of this project … What I found: People opened up… and told us exactly what they were looking for and what they didn’t want.”
“This is an economic development plan,” he emphasized. “Site selection includes a number of different activities.” When commission members talk with officials of prospective companies, “you have information in front of you that is current.”
FCRC President Scott McDonough, Cedar Grove, reported he, Franklin County Economic Development Commission President Bill Schirmer and Rick Gill, a nonvoting FCRC member representing the school board, were members of the draft committee. They last met Oct. 19 to make final changes to the plan. Additions to project recommendations also were added.
Kinnett wrote, “The county is poised for growth due to its location and the quality of the people that live there.” While he noted residents have limited access to good roads, a sound labor force and significant land for future growth puts the county “in an enviable position.”
The consultant met with most county manufacturers except for Batesville Tool & Die to formulate a chart of labor characteristics. “This is somewhat of a problem,” he admitted. “You’re just below the two-thirds level” on a scale of 10. The highest scores, almost 7, were for accuracy, productivity and absenteeism. The lowest scores, 4-5, were for alcohol and drugs and basic skills. “There’s room for a lot of improvement … to bring those numbers up.”
A quality of life chart had the highest scores for recreation, housing affordability and schools. The lowest score? “You really don’t have any cultural facilities here … except in Metamora.”
Franklin County’s educational attainment could be improved, according to another chart. There are more high school dropouts (14.6 percent) than Indiana and U.S. averages and far fewer with bachelor’s and professional degrees (10.2 and 5.5 percents, respectively) than state and national averages.
Kinnett pointed out 4.6 percent of county residents work at home. “That’s not a bad number and it needs to increase. That’s something we can work on.” He gave an example that explained why. When he completed a plan for Steamboat Springs, Colorado, which had under 5,000 households at the time, well over 100 businesses were home based. “The average income level of those 100 businesses was six figures or better.”
The county benefits by many home-based businesses because business owners pay taxes and spend income within the community most likely, but there aren’t additional costs for services. “That’s a net win for the community. That can all change if you start adding regulations on home businesses, because you’ll drive them out.”
While 8,539 county residents work in another county, it goes the other way, too: 2,074 nonresidents commute to Franklin County to work.
He calculated 692,314 live within 30 miles of the county. “Is it realistic you’re going to bring people in? Maybe not, but if a business needs a large workforce,” that figure sounds impressive.
Wayne Monroe, Brookville, could relate to the discussion about commuters. “I was born and raised here. I spent 18 years driving to Batesville and 28 years driving to Fairfield, Ohio,” to work. He was concerned about county officials gaining a large grant for the Whitewater Valley Gateway Park and using county funds to offer new industries tax abatements and other incentives. “We’ve got nothing in return.”
McDonough said it’s the commission’s intent to analyze future funding to determine “if we’re going to get a good return on our investment.”