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Record Turnout for Partnering for Progress Quarterly Meeting

Over 50 investors and guests show for economic development update

GREENVILLE- A record number of investors and guests came out recently in the cold and snow to the first Partnering for Progress Investor’s Meeting of 2011.  The quarterly event was held on Friday, January 28th at Second National Bank on S. Broadway in Greenville.  Partnering for Progress is a countywide collaborative development effort composed of over 50 public and private partners from around Darke County.  The initiative funds the efforts of the economic development (ED) office and is governed by the Darke County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC).

“We’re thrilled with the attendance numbers, “said CIC Vice-President Jim Poeppelman, who presided over the 90 minute event. “What was particularly gratifying about this meeting was the number of new faces in the audience.”

At the event, attendees learned from CIC Treasurer Randy Gump that the initiative was on solid financial footing and were able to hear both a financial recap of 2010 and the projected budget for 2011.  Attendees also got the usual update on economic development from Director Marc Saluk, who discussed the high level of activity already in the business community in 2011.

“There are a large number of company projects already underway at some stage of development this year,” explained Saluk. “Many of these will either create or retain jobs and 5 or 6 of them may involve a substantial capital investment.”

Though Saluk emphasized that many of these projects are only potential ones at this point, all told they put about 500 total jobs in-play if each project were to come to fruition.

“It speaks volumes for the level of activity in the Darke County business community that we’re already talking about the potential for this many jobs created or retained and we’re not even two months into the year yet,” he stated.

According to Saluk, this momentum is just a carry-over from an activity surge that began last summer when about half of the companies that ED personnel visited already had plans for job creating projects at some stage of development.

Other than the brisk pace of county business projects, meeting attendees got a recap of 2010 ED highlights which included the attraction, retention, and expansion of a number of county businesses.  Guests also learned about plans for 2011 which include the development of the county’s first ever stand-alone economic development website.  However, according to Saluk, what was preached in 2010 will still be the initiative’s 2011 focus.

“We need to remain proactive and responsive to the needs of local business. We must continue to take advantage of opportunities to assist and in finding new ways to assist.  New companies will always be sought and welcomed; however, assistance for the existing corporate citizens is job one….now and always.”

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