Adapting to the “new normal”, members of the Washington Rotary Club held their first hybrid meeting yesterday. Members of the Rotary were updated on Daviess County’s economy, and future projects by Brant Niehoff, Executive Director of the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation. Niehoff reported that the County’s businesses are, for the most part, weathering the problems presented by the pandemic and several are either planning to expand or have expanded. Niehoff pointed to TrueRX’s recent announcement of a new building and 90 new jobs, IsoFlex’s addition of a new production line, Graber Post Buildings’ recent expansion, as well as additional jobs at WestGate.
Niehoff also pointed to the recently announced Hyper Sonic project at Crane. He said that to attract these new jobs and employees to Daviess County, and to make Daviess County a place local high school and college graduates want to return to, the County needs to continue to develop infrastructure and quality of life projects.
One of those projects the Economic Development Corporation is working on is a Downtown Revitalization project which would convert the Jay Myers parking lot, plus the old Hayes Motor Supply Building into an area to be used for parking during the business day, but would be available for festivals, farmers, artists markets, and other special events. Niehoff said the project is currently in the design stage, with the hope of getting the project underway next year.