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Marshall County Economic Development Corporation reports $50M+ capital investment and ongoing workforce, housing initiatives
Summary
Greg Hildebrand, president of the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation, told commissioners the county saw over $50 million in estimated capital investment in 2024, workforce and housing remain priorities, and the county is pursuing industrial site readiness and Ready funding projects.
Greg Hildebrand, president of the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC), presented an annual update on Jan. 20 summarizing 2024 activity and priorities for 2025.
Hildebrand said the county recorded more than $50 million in estimated capital investment in 2024, and he estimated an additional $9 million in annual payroll resulting from those investments. He noted Marshall County's unemployment (November 2024) was 4.0% compared with Indiana at 4.1% and the U.S. at 4.2%. The presentation included local average wage figures and highlighted ongoing manufacturing expansions and relocations, including a die-cast company relocating with an estimated 25 employees and other local employers expanding automation and production lines.
Hildebrand discussed industry leads and retention work, housing studies by MACOG and local partners that find additional housing units are needed, and several Ready funding awards that the county will benefit from. He described efforts to work with utilities and power authorities on industrial-site readiness grants, inventoried industrial sites that need infrastructure upgrades, and ongoing collaboration on workforce training, internships and apprenticeships with local colleges and regional partnerships.
Commissioners asked Hildebrand about workforce-development programs and requested MCEDC provide a quarterly update to the county council in February. He also answered questions about funding sources (county appropriation, municipal contributions and private investors) and said MCEDC does not receive conditional “pay-to-play” incentives from projects; logos of private investors are listed on MCEDC's website.
Hildebrand said MCEDC will continue work in 2025 on sites, housing, entrepreneur development and workforce pipelines and encouraged community engagement on the county comprehensive plan. The commissioners accepted the update and scheduled future reporting to council and local boards.
