Latest news with #READI2.0
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fairgrounds improvements underway
GREENSBURG – Both the Community Building and the Optimist Pavilion at the Decatur County Fairgrounds were razed this week as part of an effort that aims to modernize and improve the site that plays host to such popular attractions as the annual county fair and Power of the Past gathering. Following clean-up, the next step in the project involves Schutte Excavating pouring the footers and building a foundation for a new Headquarters Building where the Optimist Pavilion stood. After that, through a BOT (build-operate-transfer) arrangement, GM Development will manage construction while SC Construction completes the building. Funded mostly through READI 2.0 dollars, the new Headquarters Building is part of a complete renovation of the fairgrounds that also includes upgrading the Farm and Home building bathrooms and updating the electrical system throughout the entire site. The new structure will feature several amenities including awnings for vendors, restrooms and office space. According to many of the current buildings on the property were constructed in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Force Construction joins EDC board
Force Construction was recently introduced as the newest member of the Greensburg-Decatur County Economic Development board. Based in Columbus, Ind., Force was established in 1946, and the addition of the company means the EDC board is now 'completely full,' according to EDC Director Bryan Robbins. The EDC is partnering with both the city of Greensburg, Decatur County and two TIF districts to conduct a housing survey. 'We look forward to getting that started soon,' Robbins said, now that the EDC has partnered with these entities. The board also discussed current housing statistics. February was a slower month than February 2024, but Robbins feels that with spring approaching more people are looking for homes and expects the market to pick up. Some board members observed they have seen increased interest in house flipping, which, Robbins said 'is good because when we have a significant amount of housing growth' older homes that need work can 'get left behind.' He believes the increased interest in flipping homes can lead to some good investments in existing housing infrastructure. 'We had a great turnout,' for the recent Opportunity Expo, Robbins shared. The Opportunity Yearbook has been published; the yearbook project was funded by a grant from the East Central Educational Service Center. The board also briefly reviewed updates regarding READI 2.0 projects. We expect to hear about some of those projects soon, Robbins said, noting some projects are awaiting approval at the state level. Finally, the board discussed Indiana's new state Secretary of Commerce David Adams, and the impact events at the state level might have locally. 'It seems that the state's focus will be on existing business retention and expansion,' Robbins explained, 'as well as entrepreneurship – which is a great focus to have.' The Indiana Economic Development Corporation recently visited Decatur County and toured three businesses: Indiana Assemblies, Mesco Manufacturing and Blasdel Enterprises.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Goshen OKs agreement for 18 townhomes on Millrace
GOSHEN — A set of townhomes will line the Millrace Canal under a revised plan adopted by the city this week. The Row on the Millrace LLC will build 18 residential units spread among three townhome buildings under a development agreement that the Goshen Board of Works passed Thursday. The site is a one-acre brownfield property in the 500 block of River Race Drive which has a rocky history of stalled developments. The latest effort began when Goshen stair maker Viewrail submitted a plan in June 2023 for a $16 million apartment complex with around 50 units. It described the housing complex, which originally was dubbed Millrace Flats, as a luxury apartment building. The project had applied for funding under Indiana's READI 2.0 program but wasn't chosen. The change to a townhome plan reflects a realization that the infrastructure demands for an apartment building may be too much for the land, according to Shane Dyer, an architect with Viewrail. 'We made a switch up a year ago just because of the economics of it. The scale needed to make apartments work were probably going to cause a lot of remonstration,' he told the Goshen Redevelopment Commission on Tuesday. 'With the amenities we needed, it was just too dense, we felt.' The redevelopment commission passed the agreement after extending the deadlines for certain project milestones by four months. Under the agreement that the board of works approved, TROTM LLC must have the first structure finished by July 1, 2026, and finish all townhomes by July 1, 2029. Each townhome is expected to be around 2,500 square feet. The capital investment in the project is expected to be around $15 million. The city will be responsible for certain infrastructure improvements and utility issues. Those include funding sidewalk relocations and curb adjustments as well as permitting connections to city stormwater infrastructure. Rocky past Goshen began cleaning up the former factory land along the Millrace Canal around 20 years ago. Many industrial facilities along the 14-acre area dated back to the 1860s. The city received grants totaling $400,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to look for petroleum and other hazardous substances in the soil. The city used more than $2 million in state and federal funding to clean up the area along the canal and remove contaminated soil. New developments over the years have included trails, housing and a restaurant. The one acre of waterfront land between Monroe and Purl streets was leased to Insight Development around six years ago, which planned to build condominiums. The city took the land back after developers failed to meet the terms of their agreements by not beginning construction. Redevelopment board members wanted to have assurances in place that the new plan will move forward. TROTM LLC will buy the land from the city for $1 and the city must transfer it to the company by May 1. The city will help the developer obtain a site status letter from the Indiana Brownfield Program and fund the completion of a Phase 1 Environmental Assessment within six months of closing. One of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management's requirements for the site is that a two-foot cap of clean soil cover any areas of greenspace. The redevelopment commission will send soil data to IDEM and conduct additional sampling if needed, as well as funding additional work that may be needed such as excavating, transporting and disposing of soil. The costs of soil work are unknown but Goshen Redevelopment Director Becky Hutsell said around 97 percent of the land will be covered by hard surface. The city will retain a $3 million mortgage on the real estate until minimum investment thresholds are met, according to the development agreement. The city must also receive quarterly reports detailing project expenses and the redevelopment commission will have the right to audit the developer's financial records related to the project.
