Putting the “strong” in Dubois Strong
Attendees milled around the atrium in Jasper’s Thyen-Clark Cultural Center last Thursday night, noshing on hors d oeuvres, sipping select beverages and chatting with their cohorts from Dubois County’s business and government sectors, and while this was a pleasure it was a pleasure with
a purpose — the purpose being Dubois Strong’s annual meeting.
Dubois Strong is the county’s economic development arm —a collaborative, public-private partnership created to maximize community resources and assets to foster economic growth.
Networking continued until Nick Stevens, chair of the executive committee stepped to the mic and welcomed the large crowd, then introduced Dubois Strong President Ed Cole.
Cole told the gathering, “This [event] is meant as a thank you. We rely on the committees and folks in this room.”
He shared progress from the past year, including the Workforce Relocation Incentive Program, a partnership with Radius and the Dubois County Community Foundation, for which applicants from outside the county would be given $5,000 to relocate here with a requirement to stay at least five years. So far 11 families or individuals have taken them up on the offer, with only one heading back to Nevada. Funding is depleted for the program; however, Radius, IN has taken up the charge and will contribute $3,500 per person, matched by $1,500 from the business or industry that will gain the employee.
Why?
According to Indiana University senior economists, someone making $35,000 per year over five years will make a $71,000 economic impact in Dubois County. Those making $100,000 per year over five years will make a $209,000 impact.
Cole also shared the success of the Tour of Opportunity where 550 or so eighth graders from all four school corporations are bused around the county to see what happens on a daily basis at businesses from auto mechanics to health care and agriculture.
This is a move to both set the students on a career pathway and also learn why Dubois County is the place to stay or return to after post-secondary education.
He then turned to a nationwide problem that is significant in Dubois County — child care. “It needs to be both accessible and affordable,” Cole opined.
To back that up Cole reported that local industries lose $12.1 million annually for absences and turnover.
There are 2,799 children in the county under age six who need care, while only 729 child care “seats” are available. This creates both an economic and workforce problem. Cole explained, “86.2 percent work and have children under six, but we’re still missing 288 parents who can’t find childcare but could be working.”
While a regional initiative is ongoing, Cole said the “one size fits all approach” negatively affects providers both small and large. He said federal legislators need to revise the rules as they’ve become onerous, such as the five-child limit for unlicensed childcare providers.
“I think we need to look at a 501c3 nonprofit whose entire focus is childcare. This could be a public/private organization that can raise funds.”
The other nationwide problem is affordable housing. Having no place to put people is definitely a negative when trying to attract a workforce. In 2019 regional housing study concluded that Dubois County needs to average 195 front doors every year until 2030 to meet demand. Cole credited Angie Giesler with sharing that from 2019-21, 661 new housing units were built across the county, but progress slowed when interest rates rose.
Dubois Strong is preparing to engage in another housing study and will start in May with focus groups.
On a positive note, Cole said the November Ag Summit, now in its eighth year, has been hugely successful, with 50 to 60 experts descending on Dubois County to share their agricultural expertise.
He also reminded those gathered to tell someone starting a business or in need of bridge financing to contact Dubois Strong for a business loan, usually in the $15,000 to $40,000 range.
In conclusion, Cole commented, “I feel very lucky to call Dubois County home!”