News
Noble County in good economic health
1/27/2012
Author: Bob Buttgen
Published by: The News Sun
The economic health of Noble County is in pretty good condition with a bright future bolstered by plenty of optimism.
That's the diagnosis presented Thursday afternoon when the Noble County Economic Development Corp. held its annual meeting in The CrossWalk at Ligonier United Methodist Church.
With about 125 business leaders on hand, reports were presented from several people who have spent the last year looking after Noble County's economic past, present and future.
The meeting offered up two sides of the work being done by the NCEDC staff and volunteers, as well as outside groups. One side was represented by figures in black and white. The other half of the story came through ideas and concepts.
John English, director of Noble REMC, also serves as chairman of the NCEDC board of directors and coordinated the gathering.
"We've had a very good year," English told the group. "We've got so many exciting things going on, including continued and new partnerships all across the county and region."
English cited a new report from the business department at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Its shows Noble County's employment rate, in the manufacturing sector, rose by 2.8 percentage points from November of 2010 to November 2011. That compares favorably to a statewide rise of 1.8 percentage points, and a national increase of 1.2.
The 10-county region of northeast Indiana rose by 3.9 percentage points, English said.
Another encouraging statistic delivered to the audience is that Noble County rates as the 12th highest county in the nation in percentage of jobs coming from manufacturing.
"45.3 percent of the county's jobs are in manufacturing," English said. "Manufacturing is coming back, but we still need to diversify."
The NCEDC, he said, will continue to concentrate all of its work in the area of business retention and expansion.
English credited the NCEDC's executive director, Rick Sherck, and his assistant, Margaux Dazey, for their day-to-day efforts in making the organization a success.
The NCEDC is partnering with many groups within the county, such as the Noble County Convention and Visitors Bureau, as well as outside entities such as Ball State University, the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership and Vision 2020. Representatives from those organizations addressed the meeting.
John Bry, executive director of the county's visitors bureau, cited some of the economic benefits Noble County has gained from increased efforts to bring new tourism opportunities to the area.
Heather Kemper, from Ball State's Building Better Communities group, has been working with the regional and local economic groups in the state. She reported on listening sessions held last year in Noble County, where 65 business and community leaders were invited in to share their expertise.
The goal of all that work, Kemper said, is "to develop, attract and retain talent" for the region. She said Noble County is setting a high standard for other counties.
"You are leading the way among the 10 counties in the regional partnership, as far as your visioning efforts," she said.
Noble County has its own group, Noble Vision, that is working to bring new ideas and action plans that will continue to keep the county moving forward, said Denise Lemmon, executive director of LEAP of Noble County and a member of the Noble Vision board of directors.
Lemmon outlined the three goals the Noble Vision group is striving to reach: world-class learning opportunities; vibrant and diverse economy; and superior quality of life.
English said the NCEDC wants to conduct a countywide survey of salaries, wages and benefits. The group is looking for sponsors to share the estimated $5,000 cost of the survey.
The NCEDC also has a chance to get a $10,000 grant that would need to be matched, and the board will be looking for partnerships with that effort.
Another new project of the economic development group is creating an "externship" program that would use schoolteachers from Noble County, English said. Selected teachers would spend a week working in local industries to "open some eyes" to the way businesses operate and what they need in new employees and ideas.
After the meeting, Matt Bell, executive director of the Northeast Indiana Regional Chamber of Commerce, echoed some of the thoughts and ideas presented at the meeting.
"This county and this region have had a very good year," he said. "Sometimes we're too close to see the growth and the progress being made. But when you have a chance to step back and assess the situation from a different viewpoint, and take a new look at it, there's a lot to be proud of in Noble County."
More information on the work and projects of the NCEDC are available on its website, noblecountyedc.com. The phone number for the group's office in Albion is 636-3800. Back to Top