SCEDC presents Invest Steuben Enterprise Center; county appropriation request delayed to May

David Koenig, director of the Steuben County Economic Development Corporation, presented plans to the county council on April 14 for an Invest Steuben Enterprise Center on South Wayne Street, a campus the SCEDC proposes to use for technical and industrial training, business incubator space, co-working space and shared offices for workforce and development organizations.

Koenig said the SCEDC entered a purchase agreement in December 2014 for three parcels (901, 903 and 907 S. Wayne Street) totaling 4.23 acres and roughly 61,650 square feet across five buildings. He described interest from Ivy Tech and Freedom Academy in conducting classes at the site and said the project aims to centralize workforce-development services from organizations including SCEDC, the Angola Chamber of Commerce, WorkOne Northeast and the Small Business Development Center.

At a prior commissioners’ meeting $100,000 in EDIT funds was approved to join $100,000 from SCEDC and a proposed $250,000 loan from Farmers State Bank; the City of Angola committed in-kind services to restore curbs, sidewalks and grass meridians.

Koenig requested county council approval for a $100,000 appropriation to fulfill the commissioners’ commitment. President Richard Shipe advised that the council must delay a vote until the May meeting because the request was submitted to the auditor after the publication deadline for the May 12 meeting had passed.

Koenig said it is not his intent to return to the county for additional funds and expressed confidence that other community groups would help support the project, but he acknowledged the council needs time to consider the appropriation.

Next steps: The appropriation request will appear on the council’s May agenda for formal consideration.