Wanted by 1 Dec.: Community Coordinator
October 19, 2022 at 2:38 p.m.
Franklin County Economic Development Commission president John Palmer announced at Monday's monthly meeting that the deadline to hire a coordinator to lead facilitation of the federal HELP (Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program) grant has been moved up a month to the first of December.
“(The state's) asked us to get things kicked into gear,” he said of the process, which has its origin in American Rescue Plan Act funds and allows the state to match $1 million allotted to the county and Town of Brookville for approved collaborative projects with Wayne County and the cities of Connersville and Richmond.
A committee's been formed consisting of municipal officials, nonprofit directors and private citizens; the purpose is twofold, to get organized and conduct the interview process.
Palmer requested member Jessica Hansel, Brookville's Special Projects Director, volunteer to replace Curtis Ward (Brookville Town Council president) as the town's representative on the committee due to Ward's other commitments. She agreed.
A detailed sample of the job description, which pays $40,000 per year, can be found at in.gov/ocra/help/
Palmer stated there are certain requirements that need met for the contractual position that is funded – for one year with rehiring being negotiable - partly by the state and partly by the county and Town of Brookville. He believed all funding has been allocated.
“You can only work on this project, you cannot have another job,” he pointed out. “Because they want this to work. You need to be totally focused on the HELP program because it's not simple.” Duties and time requirements (30-40 hours per week) are specific.
The committee will attend centralized training nearby with Indiana University, Purdue University, Ball State University and Ivy Tech all lending a helping hand.
One idea for a project is an auto-trail, whereby tourists utilizing the Whitewater Canal Trail would be able to access QR codes on smartphones to hear about interesting history along the route.
There was some general discussion about the receipt of federal funds.
“The reality is, each project has to go through eligibility and applicability (guidelines),” remarked Nick Lawrence, the county's economic development consultant from The Wheatley Group. “Then you have to create legally binding agreements amongst all parties.”
“If you don't follow the original intent for the money, you will have to pay it back and (no one) wants to do that,” Palmer added.
He added HELP is what ARPA money was originally designed for – increasing the livability of a community or making it a better place to live.
“I do think we have the opportunity to make a big difference in the county if we spend the money wisely,” noted Palmer. “It'll be exactly what the initials HELP stand for.”
Relatedly, Palmer explained how smaller municipalities are awarded funds, after speaking with a representative from USDA.
A social deprivation index (SDI) is considered. Items like school systems, median income and commercial establishments determine a number; for example, Laurel graded out at 77 and Metamora at a much better 23.
“No knock on Laurel, it just shows two places that really aren't that different,” he said. "But because Metamora has more traffic and things like that, the US government thinks they're better off … so it's harder to get money to Metamora than it is to Laurel. It's also harder if you're not incorporated.”
To emphasize his point, Palmer noted Oldenburg and Laurel each received about $100,000 in ARPA funds and Metamora received none.
He added that other than Brookville and Laurel, no townships or communities in the county can expect to receive more than 35% of the total applied for. This is based on income tax/census data that shows county residents in a rosier financial condition than is generally assumed.
In other news, Palmer asked for a motion to commit $8,500 of federal READI (Regional Economic and Acceleration Development Initiative) funds to the Highway 1 corridor near St. Leon. Some money also comes from Duke Energy, given to both Franklin and Dearborn as the area straddles the county line. Dearborn Co. will commit a little more ($9,500) toward a development study, but Franklin could ultimately benefit from water, sewer or gas services placed just north of the line.
If READI is renewed next year – and Palmer believes it will be – the study could indicate how best to improve development along the corridor.
“We can begin to conceptualize what that corridor could be and our best bets to invest moving forward,” said Lawrence. “So, it's a really appropriate development path.”
Hansel gave an update of the Brookville façade grant to improve Main Street. Twenty-two buildings have gone through the planning phase and initial cost estimates from RATIO Design, Indianapolis, are expected to start rolling in this week.
“There's a list of buildings, the top one obviously scored the best and then funds work their way down a list until we run out,” said Hansel. “It's a learning experience but I'm excited to be a part of it. It's great.”
Lawrence's final invoice for the year was approved.
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Franklin County Economic Development Commission president John Palmer announced at Monday's monthly meeting that the deadline to hire a coordinator to lead facilitation of the federal HELP (Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program) grant has been moved up a month to the first of December.
“(The state's) asked us to get things kicked into gear,” he said of the process, which has its origin in American Rescue Plan Act funds and allows the state to match $1 million allotted to the county and Town of Brookville for approved collaborative projects with Wayne County and the cities of Connersville and Richmond.
A committee's been formed consisting of municipal officials, nonprofit directors and private citizens; the purpose is twofold, to get organized and conduct the interview process.
Palmer requested member Jessica Hansel, Brookville's Special Projects Director, volunteer to replace Curtis Ward (Brookville Town Council president) as the town's representative on the committee due to Ward's other commitments. She agreed.
A detailed sample of the job description, which pays $40,000 per year, can be found at in.gov/ocra/help/
Palmer stated there are certain requirements that need met for the contractual position that is funded – for one year with rehiring being negotiable - partly by the state and partly by the county and Town of Brookville. He believed all funding has been allocated.
“You can only work on this project, you cannot have another job,” he pointed out. “Because they want this to work. You need to be totally focused on the HELP program because it's not simple.” Duties and time requirements (30-40 hours per week) are specific.
The committee will attend centralized training nearby with Indiana University, Purdue University, Ball State University and Ivy Tech all lending a helping hand.
One idea for a project is an auto-trail, whereby tourists utilizing the Whitewater Canal Trail would be able to access QR codes on smartphones to hear about interesting history along the route.
There was some general discussion about the receipt of federal funds.
“The reality is, each project has to go through eligibility and applicability (guidelines),” remarked Nick Lawrence, the county's economic development consultant from The Wheatley Group. “Then you have to create legally binding agreements amongst all parties.”
“If you don't follow the original intent for the money, you will have to pay it back and (no one) wants to do that,” Palmer added.
He added HELP is what ARPA money was originally designed for – increasing the livability of a community or making it a better place to live.
“I do think we have the opportunity to make a big difference in the county if we spend the money wisely,” noted Palmer. “It'll be exactly what the initials HELP stand for.”
Relatedly, Palmer explained how smaller municipalities are awarded funds, after speaking with a representative from USDA.
A social deprivation index (SDI) is considered. Items like school systems, median income and commercial establishments determine a number; for example, Laurel graded out at 77 and Metamora at a much better 23.
“No knock on Laurel, it just shows two places that really aren't that different,” he said. "But because Metamora has more traffic and things like that, the US government thinks they're better off … so it's harder to get money to Metamora than it is to Laurel. It's also harder if you're not incorporated.”
To emphasize his point, Palmer noted Oldenburg and Laurel each received about $100,000 in ARPA funds and Metamora received none.
He added that other than Brookville and Laurel, no townships or communities in the county can expect to receive more than 35% of the total applied for. This is based on income tax/census data that shows county residents in a rosier financial condition than is generally assumed.
In other news, Palmer asked for a motion to commit $8,500 of federal READI (Regional Economic and Acceleration Development Initiative) funds to the Highway 1 corridor near St. Leon. Some money also comes from Duke Energy, given to both Franklin and Dearborn as the area straddles the county line. Dearborn Co. will commit a little more ($9,500) toward a development study, but Franklin could ultimately benefit from water, sewer or gas services placed just north of the line.
If READI is renewed next year – and Palmer believes it will be – the study could indicate how best to improve development along the corridor.
“We can begin to conceptualize what that corridor could be and our best bets to invest moving forward,” said Lawrence. “So, it's a really appropriate development path.”
Hansel gave an update of the Brookville façade grant to improve Main Street. Twenty-two buildings have gone through the planning phase and initial cost estimates from RATIO Design, Indianapolis, are expected to start rolling in this week.
“There's a list of buildings, the top one obviously scored the best and then funds work their way down a list until we run out,” said Hansel. “It's a learning experience but I'm excited to be a part of it. It's great.”
Lawrence's final invoice for the year was approved.