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Regional planning commission briefs Jennings County on grants, brownfields, traffic counts and broadband
Summary
A representative from the Southeast Regional Planning Commission described the organization’s services, including grant writing, traffic counts, brownfields assessments and an Economic Development Administration (EDA) regional plan used to prioritize projects for funding.
Jody Connor of the Southeast Regional Planning Commission briefed the Jennings County commissioners on the commission’s services, its role in the regional Economic Development Administration district and available technical assistance for local projects.
Connor said the regional planning commission (RPC) performs grant administration and writes grants at no upfront cost to counties and nonprofits, taking administrative fees only if an agency requires contract administration. “We don’t charge anything upfront, not a penny,” Connor said, describing grant-writing and grant-administration services available to local governments and nonprofits.
The RPC conducts traffic counts on major corridors every three years and said staff can perform a count near the fairgrounds if requested; the RPC also manages a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) every five years and annual updates that help projects score better for EDA funding. Connor outlined prior project types — water, sewer, storm drainage, public facilities and housing — and said RPC has supported brownfields assessment projects and has broadband/connectivity resources and a web portal for residents with internet issues.
Commissioners and staff asked how to improve communications so the RPC can be made aware of grant opportunities and local needs more quickly; Connor suggested more frequent staff check‑ins and direct outreach. The RPC representative also encouraged counties to route grant opportunities through the commission to consolidate applications and strengthen competitiveness, while acknowledging the RPC does not always have the specialization for every grant type.
No formal action was taken; the presentation served as a briefing and a reminder of the commission’s free initial grant-writing services and regional planning resources.
