Forward thinking with FEDCO
FEDCO Celebrates 2022 Economic Development Week
Fulton Economic Development Corporation (FEDCO) marks the week of May 9 to May 13, 2022, as the next Economic Development Week. During this week, communities across North America will celebrate and recognize the contributions made by professional economic developers to create more economically vibrant and livable communities.
Created in 2016 by International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the largest international professional trade association for economic developers, Economic Development Week aims to increase awareness for local programs that create jobs, advance career development opportunities, and improve the quality of life in communities everywhere.
At FEDCO, we enjoyed taking a moment to reflect on some of the projects from the last that we have been a part of. In the last year, FEDCO was able to partner with Fulton County as part of a small business grant application with the Indiana Office of Community & Rural Affairs. This grant allowed FEDCO to make grants to small businesses as COVID relief, we were able to award 28 Fulton County small businesses a total of $218,500. We are making progress in the development of Blacketor Industrial Park, we have sold three of ten lots, with waterline extension currently underway and the extension of Blacketor Drive to follow soon. We continued working with North Central Indiana Regional Planning Council and submitted a Regional Development Plan to Indiana Economic Development Corporations for the Regional Economic Acceleration & Development Initiative (READI) which was awarded $30 million to the region. FEDCO stepped up to be the fundraising mechanism for two highly anticipated quality of life projects for the City of Rochester, the splash pad at the city park and the pickleball courts by the city pool. In 2021, we were able to make loans to Fulton County small businesses in the amount of $95,142 and granted technical assistance training funds in the amount of $4,293.
These are just some of the highlights for FEDCO from 2021. We continue to look for ways to help businesses in Fulton County. FEDCO has engaged the services of Kimberly’s Business by Design to lead FEDCO board members through an analysis of their current operations and provide recommendations for an effective board structure and bylaws. They will also lead the board and staff members through the development of a high-quality work plan that propels both the community and FEDCO forward to impactful growth.
We at Fulton Economic Development Corporation (FEDCO) are here to help our community grow and prosper. Visit www.fultondevelopment.org to learn more about our current programs and offerings.
Warm wishes,
Tiffany Futrell
Interim Director