ORANGE COUNTY REMC HELPS CREATE NEW GROWTH PLAN
Local electric cooperative leadership develops improved economic development strategy
Located in the southern-central part of the state, Orange County contains some prime Indiana real estate. The spectacular West Baden Springs resort is located there. So is the Paoli Peaks ski area and the 8,800-acre Patoka Lake. And it’s where basketball superstar Larry Bird grew up.
Five state roads and U.S. Route 150 provide easy access to the area and there are two shovel-ready development sites, but Orange County faced a challenge despite all those amenities – finding a way to leverage them and the county’s other advantages to spur economic growth. County leaders needed help to come up with a strategic plan.
So the Orange County REMC asked its electric power supplier, Hoosier Energy, for assistance, and Hoosier’s economic development office quickly responded.
In the late summer of 2009, staff from Orange County REMC’s supplier facilitated a series of planning workshops and led a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) in Orange County for members of the electric coop and the local economic development organization’s board of directors to bring issues into focus and develop an action plan.
“We were able to identify a wide range of activities we need to be involved in and then focus on a few,” said Dan Arnold, general manager of the Orange County REMC.
At the top of the list in the resulting strategic plan are strategies for business growth and retention, and education of local officials regarding the techniques and tools of economic development such as the use of Tax Increment Finance (TIF) districts.
Dave Embree, president of the Orange County Economic Development Partnership’s board of directors, participated in the planning sessions. He said they were important for the enhancing the effectiveness of the LEDO and praised Hoosier Energy for facilitating the process.
“I think that was a very important service they offered. We needed help and they really did a good job of that,” stated Embree.
The strategic planning sessions helped bring into focus the importance of a strong board and continued funding for the Orange County Economic Development Partnership, and successfully leveraging the funds the LEDO has, he added.
Embree also praised the work of Arnold at the REMC, saying he’s been “extremely valuable” in boosting Orange County’s economic development efforts.
The REMC assisted in developing the two shovel-ready sites in Orange County, neither in a TIF district. Arnold hopes the strategic plan will prompt more communities in the county to embrace the use of TIFs to enhance business growth.
Judy Gray, executive director of the Orange County EDP, said Hoosier Energy’s participation, walking them through the conversation, was the key to getting the strategic plan accomplished.
“It’s important to have outside people with expertise come in and lead the discussion. Outside people can ask the tough questions,” she said.
On Nov. 10, 2009 the Orange County EDP board of directors voted to approve the strategic plan which is being implemented in 2010.