County opens deep pockets for jobs

07/27/2010

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By KRISTINE WALDEN
Daily News Staff

A last-minute $500,000 request from Economic Development/ Washington County was approved by the Washington County Executive Committee Friday.

Administrative Coordinator Doug Johnson brought forward the request for a fund to be included in the capital improvement program that could be used for potential businesses.

Johnson said he spoke with EDWC Executive Director Christian Tscheschlok, who said he has several prospects of businesses interested in moving into the county and the fund would make Washington County more competitive.

“I’m hearing from the public the number one thing they want is job creation,” said Supervisor Mark McCune. “I’ve never seen a (building) vacancy level like this. I would be in favor of putting some money aside to bring (in jobs).”

EDWC is a public-private development partnership which works to retain and attract businesses, maintain work force quality, encourage start-up businesses and recruits businesses.

Before the EDWC would be able to use any of the money in the fund, it would have be approved by the County Board.

To come up with the $500,000, the committee cut $300,000 from the jail expansion fund and moved $250,000 from 2011 to 2012 for information systems infrastructure.

Committee members also removed $1.2 million from the Public Agency Center remodeling fund. The $3.8 million capital improvement program budget includes $400,000 for facility projects, $100,000 for facility projects at Fair Park, $500,000 for park development, $1.5 million for highway road projects, $300,000 to replace a chiller at Samaritan, $400,000 for Sheriff’s Department software, $100,000 for technology infrastructure and $500,000 for the Economic Development Project Fund.

The capital improvement program budget advances to the Finance Committee and the full County Board for final approval.