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Regional development director urges Greene County support for land bank and infrastructure projects
Summary
Greg Jones, director of the Indiana Development Commission, told the Greene County Council the commission has leveraged more than $12 million for regional brownfield cleanup, water and sewer projects and asked counties to consider $50,000 each to sustain a regional land bank and continue redevelopment work.
Greg Jones, director of the Indiana Development Commission, updated the Greene County Council on regional infrastructure and redevelopment work and said the commission will request county support to sustain a newly formed regional land bank.
Jones told the council the commission has leveraged more than $12 million in redevelopment and brownfield funding across five counties and is pursuing U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) projects to expand water and sewer capacity in the Westgate Tech Park. "That'll open up capacity at the park," Jones said, describing water-treatment and well repairs needed to attract industry.
Why it matters: Jones said the commission's projects include owner-occupied home rehabilitation, brownfield cleanup, and workforce housing intended to stabilize neighborhoods and increase the tax base. He said a regional land bank created two and a half years ago now owns about 20 properties and that demolition, renovation and property management require ongoing funds.
Jones described the land bank's goals and timeline and said it has already placed three properties under renovation contracts and holds about $564,000 in assessed value for properties currently in its inventory. "We own we've had a total of 20 properties run through our land bank where we are acquiring property," he said, adding the group aims to sell or rehabilitate properties to return them to productive use rather than simply sell to the highest bidder.
Council discussion focused on the mechanics and funding timeline. Jones said the land bank will run out of funding in September and that SIDC will send a formal request to counties asking each to consider a $50,000 contribution to the land bank. "We'll be sending you a letter that makes a formal request," Jones said. "When that comes to your door, you'll know who we are and what we do."
The council did not vote on the funding ask at the meeting; Jones indicated the request would arrive before the next budget cycle. The presentation also included updates on other SIDC-supported projects in Greene County and nearby towns, including water infrastructure and housing initiatives that Jones said aim to improve capacity at the Westgate Tech Park and to right-size workforce housing.
What happens next: SIDC will send a formal written request to county officials; council members can evaluate that request through the county's budget process. The commission did not take a formal budget vote on the land bank contribution at this meeting.
