[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6153238,"mediaKeyId","5493852-794429a6f0403fa73faa904f89db95e1","parentId",5493852,"title","Commissioners approve three supplemental appropriations for Superior Court and community corrections","audioSeconds",289,"startMs",3330000,"endMs",3619000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5493852-794429a6f0403fa73faa904f89db95e1&start=3330&end=3619","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5493852-794429a6f0403fa73faa904f89db95e1/thumbnail_3330000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6153238/Dubois-County/Indiana/Commissioners-approve-three-supplemental-appropriations-for-Superior-Court-and-community-corrections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153238-dae48deb7305a70c746b4d1a41d5aff0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775220092&Signature=CUZIEtkh5rSWc0bSW763Zw2i-VcAisNSjeU9HtiCkY4VCgUtOvQrt72gAa4sYGD0FCFLyVBz9t96wZQYn6y~ApGSLUlLL~o1R~7BB~T7iQGLNGaQ3vpoDkBaiS8o8dB14ejW6FMMFqIDLYhILrLzv91p4Z6cnhkamrflPYESL9p4rOrk7gMpxXRxZUTdtZ1bBT5Y3EEv-2xL3qVz6FDKjLiNlFiJAk0tuOvANT8FPtGXaX9Zdm-neOl2lk4CwSz7wzor8f4VofA1-rcVIHg~sJxpEYvgKHFvannJ0uFswTuz0lI2dIrsHQsxZTEqjkbOCJMviQ~mVfGH6RGgk1Sm7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dubois County IN","date","2025-07-28T20:26:39Z","article","The Dubois County Commissioners reviewed and approved three supplemental appropriations during the public meeting.

First, the commissioners approved a $25,000 additional appropriation for Superior Court counsel appeals. The request was described in the packet as necessary to cover appellate counsel costs. A commissioner moved to approve the request; a second was recorded and the motion passed with all commissioners voting in favor.

Second, the board approved $5,000 for medical, psychiatric and interpreter services for Superior Court. The amount was described as funding the court’s need to pay for provider services and per-minute interpretation hotlines in languages the office cannot otherwise cover. Commissioners noted that a newly hired Spanish-speaking staff member was working but that some languages still require paid interpreter service. The motion to approve passed unanimously.

Third, the board approved $5,435 from Community Transition Program (CTP) funds for community corrections to purchase file cabinets that match existing units and fit the program’s storage needs. Commissioners clarified that the line-item request would be paid from CTP funds (not general fund) and that some used furniture is available countywide but the program required specific dimensions and matching units. The motion passed with all commissioners voting aye.

Why it matters: These supplemental appropriations are routine appropriations to meet operational needs in the courts and community corrections. Two of the three are court-related expenditures that support due-process requirements (counsel and interpretation) and the third is an equipment purchase from a dedicated corrections funding source.

Actions taken: The three appropriations were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; no recorded roll-call dissent was reported. The budget books were available to commissioners and further budget-review meetings were scheduled in August for broader appropriations and planning.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council 7-28-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Dubois County Commissioners reviewed and approved three supplemental appropriations during the public meeting.","taxTitle","Dubois County, Indiana","taxId",70545,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6153244,"Visit Dubois County reports tourism growth; targets motor-coach markets and expanded Spanish-language outreach",680,1784000,2464000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5493852-794429a6f0403fa73faa904f89db95e1&start=1784&end=2464","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5493852-794429a6f0403fa73faa904f89db95e1/thumbnail_1784000.jpg","/articles/6153244/Dubois-County/Indiana/Visit-Dubois-County-reports-tourism-growth-targets-motor-coach-markets-and-expanded-Spanish-language-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153244-5dce4c747b1129cb19a29e4cb36cad4d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775220092&Signature=cb3wEoaJcbUMmVarO~ybGmXDsNgJ260SLTUcLqPmrtaDEp4VzPqZrvtZBUHtl8LWi9m8WZmEnw4zuOpZGlgKBvIVv7XpDP6GA6KJ-h9ALSDcJno1q3Cw1byVmOO1Y4JD60MdJoAI94hItOsFjhpPHKI7tA5at7Y~ixQerABYm8gcnG~Sl2TEYzypw6aXCpw7guYY-eTk-4WNSe4crUX3SAE7zwcba8Jdb7rplCq0bWMFWIu-M9CWfwLli-WAi~ganjwNEWa-ueOcy01bafnAiS7o2GDhaf3UzcKdMmkznTYk0qUAzc85qjdghNqzlttBTiaNnMLz~Dgrzsjsn4Xjsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Whitney, representing Visit Dubois County, briefed the Dubois County Commissioners on tourism metrics, recent marketing results and 2025 priorities, including expanded Spanish-language materials, motor-coach outreach and continued promotional campaigns in partnership with the Indiana Destination Development Corporation.

Whitney reported that county visitor spending reached about $123.4 million in the most recent Rockford Analytics county report, an increase of 5.6% over the previous year and a near-90% increase over 10 years. She said tourism supports roughly 1,313 local jobs (presenter’s figure) and returns approximately 45% of visitor spending to the local economy — an amount the presenter quantified as about $55.5 million retained locally. She told commissioners that the visitor economy reduces household tax burdens and generated roughly $12.1 million in state and local tax revenue in the presenter’s figures.

On marketing, Whitney described a co-funded digital campaign with Discover Southern Indiana and the Indiana Destination Development Corporation that combined partner funds ($7,500 each from Visit Dubois County and Discover Southern Indiana plus $15,000 from IDDC) into a roughly $30,000 campaign. She said the campaign produced roughly 176 million impressions, a large increase in clicks and a drop in cost-per-click to about $0.79 — and that IDDC had boosted paid support because it liked the county-provided imagery and video assets. She reported a 147% increase in sessions to a Discover Indiana campaign landing page and large increases in page views and engagement.

Whitney said Visit Dubois County printed 60,000 English visitor guides and 5,000 Spanish guides as a new inclusion effort. She outlined distribution channels (tourist information services across the state and border markets, hotel and gas-station racks, and direct mail/lead-generation mailings to people requesting physical guides) and noted that printed guides typically have a high return on investment in tourism metrics.

Other updates included Wayfinding/“DuBois Landing” signage featuring 16 original artworks (supported by the Dubois County Community Foundation), continuation of sports-event work under a separate DC Multisport board and a $100,000 tourism capital and food-improvement grant fund administered by Visit Dubois County. Whitney listed earned media placements and awards, including a state tourism award to local partners and a top ranking for a local hotel brand.

Commissioners asked distribution and targeting questions for print guides and Whitney said distribution focuses on Indianapolis and southern Indiana markets, border markets in Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois, hotels and lead-generation mailings. She also described partnerships with a digital marketing contractor and the community foundation to stretch limited staff capacity.

Why it matters: Tourism dollars support local businesses and tax revenue. The presentation outlined measurable digital gains and concrete distribution strategies for printed outreach, plus specific investments (Spanish guides, motor-coach targeting and wayfinding) that commissioners may consider when evaluating county tourism support.

For follow-up: Commissioners requested copies of the materials and discussed scheduling budget-review sessions where tourism funding and broader county budget priorities will be reviewed.","Visit Dubois County presented a 2023 tourism report showing near-doubling of visitor spending over a decade, a digital marketing campaign that expanded impressions and engagement, and 2025 priorities including motor-coach outreach, distribution of print visitor guides (including a new Spanish edition) and sports-event fundraising.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6153249,"Dubois Strong outlines jobs-first strategy, housing and childcare priorities in 2026 budget briefing",1125,94000,1219000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5493852-794429a6f0403fa73faa904f89db95e1&start=94&end=1219","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5493852-794429a6f0403fa73faa904f89db95e1/thumbnail_94000.jpg","/articles/6153249/Dubois-County/Indiana/Dubois-Strong-outlines-jobs-first-strategy-housing-and-childcare-priorities-in-2026-budget-briefing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153249-d7c747173ad0921f074b0f7f08f7fecc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775220092&Signature=QaCySxC-TyTDYMOJId3zT9lTD0SME20t9dwFO4lPeQAQKuts1uSkhsR7frXu4xjEwpTeMOFhDdf9~wpU0QC9w3Z~Umeakb1zMhV5tl8RLCYPC3A0UEJnTDi0nWmic~fvwLQLGYDOr11WUME52PXVaBO7Tyv6p7ZutrxIliBFNJSRiTBSdFWUuHQf-2zVl4y9ppgTEyhw8vXhFjwgBdrnF~zX2IV3fXi9Efflmv7Q9RZ8jYrBqNZpSuLsUglF9UYW5ai638xuBFiDImSFDibmqAKLnWmYvYkuu16h4QUBsHjCIqowP4LHieAXXPajqwutSe52PJUPY5WMAEob7gmDKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Colton Pippen, executive director of Dubois Strong, presented the organization’s priorities and 2026 budget overview to the Dubois County Commissioners on topics ranging from manufacturing clusters to housing and childcare needs.

Pippen said the group’s approach centers on jobs as the driver of income, housing demand, retail activity and tax revenue, and described four strategic focus areas: business retention and expansion, talent attraction, quality of place and infrastructure. He told commissioners Dubois County has about 27,982 jobs across 1,397 establishments, and that manufacturing accounts for roughly 10,700 jobs across 105 employers.

The presentation stressed that Dubois County is highly specialized in furniture and related product manufacturing (a very high location quotient in the presenter’s industry analysis) and that the region must pursue reskilling and industry support where employment is declining. Pippen said his office has completed 26 targeted employer visits in 2025 and that two local companies are pursuing expansion projects, one in planning stages and one actively seeking property.

Housing and childcare were singled out as urgent constraints on workforce growth. Citing a county housing study, Pippen said Jasper needs about 1,300 new housing units by 2035, a second community (transcript: \"Einberg\") needs 480 and Ferdinand 80. He described a proposal to adopt “incremental development” or preapproved small-scale housing plans (a set of 30–50 preapproved plans) so owners or small developers can add duplexes, cottages or other “missing middle” housing without lengthy site-by-site approvals. He said that approach reduces upfront architectural and engineering risk and can encourage higher-density use of existing lots.

On childcare, Pippen said the Community Foundation is leading a countywide effort and Dubois Strong will partner to expand capacity, improve quality and support the early childhood workforce. He noted the plan includes a dedicated Smart Start coordinator shared across nearby counties to advance childcare seats and workforce development.

Pippen reviewed Dubois Strong’s prior remote-worker incentive: 36 people accepted stipends since 2021; 18 of those relocated and joined the local workforce, and the program’s organizers estimate roughly 100 total new residents when spouses and children are counted. He reported an estimated $2.3 million in new annual economic activity tied to those moves, roughly $280,000 in state and local tax revenue and an average income of about $94,000 among stipend recipients. He said the remote-worker program’s minimum income qualification was lowered from $60,000 to $50,000 and that employer-led hires still have access to a $5,000 stipend structure.

Pippen also discussed site-selection marketing, mapping of utilities and proximity to interstates, and an industry analysis based on NAICS clusters and Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data to identify “mature,” “star,” “emerging” and “lagging” industry clusters for targeted work.

No formal county action or vote was taken on Dubois Strong’s presentation; county commissioners asked procedural budget questions (for example whether the organization’s budget had been submitted to the auditor) and Pippen said the budget had been filed and that Dubois Strong’s historical county funding has been roughly stable (the presenter gave an operating figure around $60,000 for Dubois Strong and $40,000 for another local entity, per his remarks). Commissioners did not direct a staff report or make an official funding decision during the presentation.

The presentation materials were offered to commissioners by email or handout; Pippen said he would tinker with slides and send an updated file. Commissioners requested the presentation be circulated to the full board for review before any funding decisions.

Why it matters: Commissioners will weigh Dubois Strong’s priorities and any county funding requests against broader budget obligations. Pippen identified housing and childcare as the two main barriers local employers cite when recruiting and retaining workers; addressing those is presented as a prerequisite to translating industry specialization into local job growth and new households.

For follow-up: Commissioners asked for the presentation slides by email and for confirmation that the organization’s 2026 budget had been filed with the county auditor. No formal appropriation or policy change was adopted at the meeting.","Colton Pippen, executive director of Dubois Strong, told county commissioners that the organization will focus on job retention and growth, housing ‘missing middle’ solutions, childcare expansion, and infrastructure to support employers; no formal county appropriation or vote on the presentation was taken.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners approve three supplemental appropriations for Superior Court and community corrections

Visit Dubois County reports tourism growth; targets motor-coach markets and expanded Spanish-language outreach

Dubois Strong outlines jobs-first strategy, housing and childcare priorities in 2026 budget briefing