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Economic development group updates council on workforce housing, childcare feasibility and YMCA survey
Summary
Orange County Economic Development Partnership provided a 2025 snapshot, updated the council on French Lick workforce housing (homes selling at cost for $192,500), child-care feasibility work with IFF, and a YMCA feasibility study that will require 600 survey responses (possibly up to 6,000 phone attempts). They also discussed Riverview Farms expansion and small-business grants.
Skyler, representing the Orange County Economic Development Partnership (OCEDP), gave the council an update on local economic and community projects.
Skyler said the French Lick Resort-built workforce homes sell at cost and are priced at about $192,500 for a 1,500-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath house; house #10 is expected to be ready soon and house #12 should be complete by the end of the summer. Skyler said the homes are available to Orange County employees and that interest remains steady.
OCEDP is leading a child-care feasibility study with IFF and partners including Paoli Community Schools and the Town of West Baden. Skyler said the study's cost analysis is pending and that final results are expected in early July.
On the YMCA feasibility study, Skyler said the consultant must collect 600 survey responses from Orange County residents and noted a typical response-to-attempt ratio of about 10:1. "They could potentially be making up to 6,000 phone calls to citizens of Orange County in order to get that 600 number that they need," Skyler said, and asked council members to help spread the word so residents recognize legitimate outreach.
Skyler also said OCEDP is assisting with an EDA application tied to Riverview Farms' expansion in Orleans and reported continued interest in the small business grant program; OCEDP has provided $100,000 in small-business grant funds over the past two years. Skyler closed by highlighting community awards given at OCEDP’s annual dinner.
No formal county action was taken on the OCEDP items at the meeting.
