Milford Council Meets New County Coordinator
By David Hazledine
InkFreeNews
MILFORD — Milford Town Council had two visitors to its monthly meeting held March 14. Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation CEO Alan Tio gave a brief overview of KEDCO activities and introduced Amy Roe, the new Kosciusko County community coordinator.
Roe’s position came about after the county received a $1 million grant through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs’ new Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program. Her role will be to help communities improve via utilizing American Rescue Plan Act funds.
According to Tio, Kosciusko County is one of the first communities statewide to receive the first round of grants from the program because, he said, “We were prepared,” and he cited the Hometown Chats, which were particularly well-attended in Milford, and the resulting Forward Kosciusko Comprehensive Plan as contributing factors.
Tio also discussed the KEDCO’s role as a “single point of contact” for companies and organizations to help make the county “as competitive as possible.”
KEDCO has been working with Milford on a housing initiative in an effort to bring affordable workforce housing to the area, an effort Tio maintained is “farther along than any other community in the county.”
The initiative, he explained, could alleviate retention issues employers have related to workers having to commute from too far away.
Councilman Ken Long asked Tio what KEDCO is doing to retain young talent. “Children and grandchildren are moving out of the area,” he commented, attracted by bigger cities.
Tio emphasized the role social media may play in retention; for example, KEDCO designed a Kosciusko County-only online jobs board. KEDCO also organizes a monthly meet-up to help diversify networking opportunities for those new to the area.
Council President Doug Ruch asked Tio if he had visited Bison Manufacturing, which has several vacant buildings and is being used as an RV staging area. “It would be nice to get something more in there.”
Tio said discussion had started; however, he shifted attention to Milford’s industrial TIF districts, which he referred to as a “premier site for development in the county.”
Roe, who is originally from Rochester and attended Grace College, spoke briefly about how her previous work experience in other states had provided a skill set she hopes to put to good use in Kosciusko County.
“I know what small towns struggle with,” she said, adding it is a “good sign” Kosciusko County’s comprehensive plan initiative is allowing smaller communities such as Milford to participate individually.
Milford is one of four towns in the county, along with Mentone, Etna Green and Pierceton, taking part in HELP, she said, and she voiced her appreciation to the town for “being brave enough to participate … it will be an adventure together.”