By Sarah Lang/The Lebanon Reporter
Dax Norton, executive director of the Boone County EDC, revealed the theme for 2009 Wednesday evening at the Boone EDC’s annual meeting — a quote from comedian Milton Berle: “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”
“That epitomizes everything we do with economic development,” Norton said. “We’re building doors on a daily basis.”
And the keynote speaker for the evening, Indiana Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, liked it.
“That’s the Hoosier spirit if I’ve ever heard it,” said Skillman, who spoke to community members at Ulen Country Club. “We will succeed in the end because Hoosiers work harder than anyone else.”
Norton shared some of the major successes from the 2008 years, such as business attractions like Amazon.com and US Cold Storage and the completion of the economic development strategic plan.
“That strategic plan isn’t just sitting on a shelf, collecting dust,” Norton said. “My wife will kill me if I read it one more time in bed. And those projects are quite substantial. We must maintain this momentum.”
Skillman addressed some of that major momentum. Since 2005, more than 2,800 jobs have been created in Boone County, she said, and eight business deals were sealed, totaling more than $268 million in investment.
The county is one of the top 10 in the state for new jobs per capita, she said.
And that was just the beginning of the good news Skillman had to share. CNBC reported Indiana as the most improved state for doing business, and ranked it third nationally for business friendliness. Forbes.com said it’s the best in the Midwest for the cost of doing business, Standard & Poor gave it a triple-A credit rating and it is one of only three states in the country to have a balanced budget and a surplus.
That, Skillman said, will make sure the stimulus money Indiana will receive will truly go into economic development.
“We’re in a good position to realize a boost from the stimulus plan money, if any state can,” she said. “The money from Washington will only be used to do more, faster.”
A good portion — $668 million — is coming into the state for highway projects, such as Major Moves, Skillman said. And a portion of I-65 in Boone County, from U.S. 52 to Ind. 28 in Clinton County, has been moved up on the time table.
“We want to make sure the assistance is broad-based and geographically spread,” Skillman said. “We want it to touch as many sectors as possible.”
The budget continued to be a topic of discussion, as Skillman explained how much trouble many states are having balancing theirs. Michigan and Kentucky, she said, have cut education funds by more than $100 million, many states have had to raise taxes and some are even releasing prisoners sooner just to pay bills.
“But that’s not happening in Indiana,” Skillman said. “The governor and I expect an honestly balanced budget with no tax increases, tricks or gimmicks.”
The budget will continue to be formed until the last day of session, April 29.
