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SIDC pitches regional land bank as catalyst for Greene County redevelopment
Summary
The SIDC representative told the Greene County commissioners the regional land bank owns 14 properties, is using grant dollars to clean brownfields and has helped secure roughly $2.9 million for local water improvements; SIDC asked each county to consider an annual $50,000 contribution to sustain operations.
The SIDC representative told the Greene County commissioners that the regional land bank and SIDC have focused on infrastructure and redevelopment work across multiple counties and are seeking continued local support.
"For every dollar you put into SIDC, you're getting a $113 back," the SIDC representative said, citing grant funding and other outside investment leveraged by the program. The representative described SIDC's role in infrastructure planning, public-facility projects and grant-seeking for communities including Jasonville, Worthington and projects tied to the Westgate (Crane) Technology Park.
The presentation said SIDC helped bring roughly $2,900,000 for Eastern Heights Water system improvements to support development near the technology park and that SIDC works with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on homeowner assistance programs. "We're signing an MOU with USDA where SIDC will assist homeowners with low‑interest loan and grant applications," the SIDC representative said.
On environmental cleanup, the representative said the land bank uses EPA assessment dollars and Indiana Brownfields programs to address contamination before redevelopment. The representative cited the Hartsburg gas-station site as an example: the Indiana Brownfields/Posey program will invest about $167,000 to remove petroleum contamination; the land bank plans to demolish the structure and ready the site for commercial reuse.
SIDC reported it currently owns 14 properties (three under renovation contracts), has awarded roughly $73,000 in local contracts and spent about $43,000 on demolition to date. The land bank paid approximately $35,000 in property taxes and anticipates additional spending in 2026, including another $115,000 tied to renovation work. SIDC said the assessed value of properties it has acquired is about $564,000 and estimated those parcels could generate roughly $3,600,000 in assessed value once improvements are complete.
The representative urged stronger, more standardized code enforcement across counties to speed redevelopment and described problems that can arise when LLCs or outside investors outbid local buyers in tax-sale processes, delaying projects. To sustain the land bank, SIDC asked each county to consider an annual contribution of $50,000 and said it will continue seeking foundation grants and other funding to supplement local support.
Chair Jones asked how neighboring counties received the program; the SIDC representative said most counties have been receptive but noted some, like Crawford County, were more difficult places to secure properties. The representative closed by asking commissioners to contact other local officials to discuss continued participation.
The commission did not take a separate vote specific to the land bank request during the presentation; SIDC's funding request was presented for the counties' consideration.
