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EDA pitches fairgrounds improvements and a sports complex as part of county economic strategy
Summary
County participants discussed a capital campaign for fairgrounds upgrades and community interest in an indoor sports complex to host tournaments; the chamber and Main Street groups are compiling a business registry and planning an AI workshop to support small-business engagement.
Members of the Perry County Economic Development Authority and the Chamber described a two-track effort to support local business growth: a capital campaign to improve the fairgrounds in Newport and exploratory planning for a multi-sport complex that could host tournaments and draw visitors.
Marty Roland said there is strong demand for a facility that could serve county users and attract events from outside Perry County, but he and others warned that parking and utility capacity would be constraints. "They want it. And perhaps we can't a mini version of that," one participant said when discussing models from other counties.
The county's Main Street coordinator described a nascent business registry to capture new and existing local businesses, collect employment numbers, and identify support needs. Polbert said the EDA and the Chamber plan workshops, including an AI-for-business session, to help owners with marketing and operations.
Speakers also discussed the link between recreational assets (trailheads, Hawk Rock) and downtown businesses, saying coordinated events and improved access could boost economic returns for small businesses. No formal commitments to construct a sports complex were adopted; attendees described the fairgrounds campaign and sports-complex planning as items to pursue further and to fold into Picture Perry project tracking.
