The Vanderburgh County Council voted to find 14 companies in compliance with their tax phase-in agreements, but asked one developer that reported minimal progress to return to explain the delay.

Pat Hickey, director of economic development at the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership, told the council the office conducts annual compliance checks of companies that received property tax phase-ins and that compliance generally requires being at least 90% of original goals on each company's SB-1 Statement of Benefits and meeting at least two of three investment criteria (property, jobs and wages). "Meeting compliance consists of being within 90% of the original goals on their SB-1 statement of benefits form and at least two of the three investment criteria," Hickey said.

Hickey reported that, overall, the 14 eligible companies are meeting their commitments: collectively they are overperforming on jobs, wages and personal property investment, while real-property (new-build) investment lags somewhat because of material and permitting delays. "So as a whole, they're overperforming, jobs and wages," Hickey said, adding that wages averaged about $25 per hour across the group.

Council members questioned one company'referred to in the packet as SJIP Crosspoint (Crosspointe Polymer)'which showed very low completion percentages. "Crosspointe Polymer has three years to begin work under the economic revitalization area," Hickey said, noting the company was granted relief in 2023. A council member requested that Crosspointe Polymer be asked to appear and explain its timeline and why the packet lacked a letter documenting delays. The council subsequently voted to approve compliance for the 14 firms and separately voted to require SJIP Crosspoint to appear with further explanation.

The motions were approved by roll-call vote as recorded in the minutes; the compliance approvals carried unanimously. Council members discussed the structure of the phase-in program and how the rubric balances employment goals with capital investment, several noting the county is conducting a broader review of the scoring rubric to ensure it incentivizes timely project completion.

The council instructed economic development staff to request a formal explanation from SJIP Crosspoint and to return with additional documentation at a future council meeting.