Jones: Linton's wheels are turning

Although there haven't been many visible signs of economic development in Linton during 2006, Mayor Tom Jones said the wheels are turning and things are starting to move in the right direction.

"I think from the city administration's standpoint, it was a very good year (economic development wise)," Jones said.

For example, O'Reilly Auto Parts has announced that it will build a new store in Linton. The store will be located on A Street on the site of the former Red and White Building.

Jones said other projects are in the works; however, details of those cannot be released.

"Things are working behind the scenes really well. It's just hard to put names out there right now," Jones said, noting names of companies will not be mentioned at this time out of respect to those looking at the locating within the community.

Something that needs to be done, Jones said, is a Web site needs to be developed for the city.

"Linton is going to have to develop a Web site that is interactive and has all of our economic development stuff on there," he said.

The mayor explained that when companies are looking to locate in a community, they first look at a city's Web site. Then, he said, they drive through the community.

When it comes to site selectors driving through the community, the city's new fire station and remodeled police station are definite assets.

"It's what you community is perceived from the outside," he said, noting that it's a plus when towns look like they're prospering or growing.

In May, Jones and a group of residents attended an economic development boot camp in Indianapolis. Those attending were: LuAnn Kohler, of Tim Shonk's legal office; Valerie Houchin, the city's human resource director; Noble Stallons, of Generations; Dale Knotts, a local banker; Fred Markle, a local business owner; Cheryl Hamilton, executive director of the Linton-Stockton Chamber of Commerce; Kerry Conway, of the Greene County Foundation; Brad McKinney, economics teacher at Linton-Stockton High School; and Tim Thorlton, a sophomore at Linton-Stockton High School.

The boot camp was at the office of the Indiana Municipal Power Association, and IMPA footed the bill for the camp. IMPA also footed the bill for a second economic development boot camp this year.

"We're going to look at what our global, national and Indiana economic trends are and the future of small and mid-sized countries and regions and counties, too. Then we're going to talk about how we work with site selectors when they come in to look at communities for growth," Jones said prior to the boot camp.

After the boot camp, Knotts said, "It gave us an opportunity to really get serious and say what are the issues that affect Linton and Greene County. What do we do right? What do we do wrong? What could we suggest to be improved? We talked about wealth creation and retention. How do we make life a little bit better for those people in Linton and Greene County."

At the boot camp, Knotts said they identified a few goals, including: Increasing asset value, attracting well-paying, long term jobs, developing quality relationships within the county and providing opportunities for young adults who wish to remain in Greene County.

This morning, Jones told The Daily World that many of the goals set at the economic development boot camp have been fulfilled.

In July, Jones traveled to Austin, Texas for an economic development summit to meet with site selectors and learn about the site selecting process. The trip, like the economic development boot camp, was paid for by IMPA.

Also in July, the city council passed a resolution encouraging new businesses to locate within the city limits.

The resolution said the city is desirous of attracting new businesses in the area of manufacturing. The resolution also stated that the city is willing to take measures to encourage new businesses to locate within the city.

"Now therefore, be it resolved, the Common Council of the City of Linton, Indiana, does hereby declare that it is desirous of attracting new businesses in the area of manufacturing, that actions should be taken to encourage new businesses in the area of manufacturing to come to the City of Linton, Indiana, and that the Common Council will entertain and consider all applications for tax abatements that are presented on behalf of any new business in the area of manufacturing that wish to location in the City of Linton, Indiana," the resolution stated.

At that time, Jones joined the nine citizens who attended the economic development boot camp to form an economic development commission.

This fall, Kohler and Hamilton attended a national economic development seminar in Chicago. The seminar was paid for by IMPA.

"We're going to continue to do that with other people," Jones said.

Earlier this month, the council adopted a comprehensive plan for the city.

The plan was comprised by David Ripple, from Bernardin, Lochmueller and Associates, Inc. -- an Evansville based firm -- and members of the city's advisory planning commission. Members of the planning commission are: Chris Wathen and John Wilkes, who were appointed by the Greene County Board of Commissioners; Nigel Lehman, Brent Slover and Jack Shelton, who were appointed by the city council; and Chuck Burns, McKinney, Kohler and Ralph Witty, who were appointed by the mayor.

With the comprehensive plan, more meaningful economic development will be able to take place.

"The economic development committee and the council won't be able to do any meaningful economic development to bring jobs here or to enhance and support the companies already up and running because there will be economic development grants available by the Indiana Development Economic Commission and we would (if the plan is passed) be able to apply for those based on a comprehensive plan," Kohler said at a public hearing on the comprehensive plan.

"Anytime Linton goes to apply for a grant, there is a points process," Kohler said, noting that a specific amount of points are awarded for having a comprehensive plan in place. "The more points we have, often times the less math money we need. There may be some grants we won't be eligible to apply for without a comprehensive plan."