Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance Reports Vision 2016 Year Two Results
(Muncie, April10, 2014 ) The Muncie-Delaware County, IN Economic Development Alliance held a breakfast event at the Horizon Convention Center to report on the year two progress of the Vision 2016 Economic Development Program. The event as attended by program investors, elected officials, and community leaders.
The results for the first 24 months of the Vision 2016 program included: $222 million in new capital investment, 1,043 new and endangered jobs saved, and more than $40 million in new payroll. Existing business and new business attraction highlights from 2013 included Magna Powertrain and Bell Aquaculture expansions, and the relocation of Townsend Corporation, DD Dannar, LLC to Muncie-Delaware County. It was also reported a 50,000 square foot expandable “shell building” at Interestate-69 Exit 234 was completed, several workforce development initiatives such as the HIRE and RAMP programs are underway, and a new site certification is in its final stages.
The Keynote was presented by Larry Gigerich, a nationally-recognized economic development leader with more than 20 years of local and state government, not-for-profit , and private sector experience. The Managing Partner of Ginovus, an Indianapolis-based site location firm, Gigerich discussed “Changing Trends in Site Selection.”
“2013 was a big year, and 2014 has started off just strongly, with projects such as enhancements to the city’s gateways, the new Nebo Commons auto-mall, and the assisted living facility on Tillotson Avenue, which will result in infrastructure improvements to the south side of Muncie. Also underway are neighborhood redevelopment efforts, the new development occurring near the mall, anchored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, and of course the new downtown hotel project. It is an exciting time in Muncie-Delaware County,” said Alison Quirk, Chairman of the Board, Delaware Advancement Corporation.
About the Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance
The Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance (EDA) is a private economic development organization dedicated to the growth and prosperity of Muncie-Delaware County, Indiana. The Alliance’s purpose is to allocate and leverage economic development resources to sustain and enhance the economic growth, vitality and global competitiveness of Muncie-Delaware County as a superior business location. The EDA’s administrative entities are Delaware Advancement Corporation and the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.
About Vision 2016
Vision 2016 is the name of Muncie’s current five-year economic development program. This public/private partnership represents the most comprehensive economic development plan in the history of the county. The program, which runs from 2011 through the end of 2016, has six goals with corresponding objectives. Vision 2016 is seeking to create 2,000 primary income jobs with an annual payroll of more than $13.2 million to the community. Vision 2016 will focus on the attraction of $250 million in new capital investment.