The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/921149
A-6 Local Wednesday, Januar y 3, 2018 The Press-Dispatch Joe Mama's 350 W. Main St. Petersburg 812-354-2606 DINE-IN OR CARRY-OUT CHECK OUT C a l l a hea d fo r f as te r s e r v i c e ! OUR New Hours! NOW OPEN Tuesday thru Saturday 5 pm to 9 pm CLOSED Sunday & Monday Representatives of the Japan External Trade Organization of Chicago visited with Pike County and Petersburg officials and toured several sites around the I-69 interchange in Pike County. Above are: John Mandabach, of Bowman Family Holdings; Petersburg Mayor R. C. Klipsch; Director of Business Develop- ment at JETRO Chicago Ralph Inforzato; Director of Public Affairs at JETRO Chicago Tsubasa Hashimoto; Paul Wheatley, of The Wheatley Group; and Pike EDC Executive Director Ashley Willis. JETRO Continued from page 6 investing in Japan or Japanese companies interested in investing in America with good fits between the two countries. "We wanted to tell them about Pike County Economic Develop- ment Council and what we have been working on in partnership with the county, what the City of Petersburg has been doing with water and wastewater concerns, as well as our abundance of elec- tricity and two rail providers. Bow- man Family Holdings was there as well to talk about their willingness to invest and partner with the right company." Bowman Family Holdings con- trol an 8,000 acre mega-site, as well more than a 300 -acre shovel ready certified industrial site in the area near the I-69 site. Willis said JETRO talked to Pike County about what they do and how they try to help busi- ness development between the two countries. She said JETRO doesn't select sites for project, but instead works to provide informa- tion about sites to companies look- ing for them. She said they also had some recommendations for Pike Coun- ty officials on dealing with Japa- nese companies and dealing with cultural differences. She said they stressed the im- portance of building relationships. Willis praised Mayor Klipsch's ef- forts in this area. Klipsch has been invited to several Japan-American Society of Indiana events, as well as events with the Consulate Gen- eral of Japan in Chicago. Two years ago, the Consul General visited and toured Pike County. "It was a very good day connect- ing with them," said Willis of the meeting with JETRO. Wheatley, who is a consultant for Pike EDC, emphasized the meeting was not specific to any particular project. "This was more to inform them about the area so if a project arises that would have in- terest in the area, they have the in- formation they need," said Wheat- ley. "A couple of things were real- ly well received." He cited sever- al things, including two projects which received grants. Those are the Events Center at Prides Creek and the Technology Center, which will be located at the I-69 inter- change with Highway 61. Wheatley said Pike County was also able to showcase the things they have been working on the last three years. Those included developing infrastructure, such as the sewer line to the I-69 inter- change, and development of roads able to handle industrial traffic. Pike County has received a grant for one road and has applied for a grant on another road. Those roads will provide access to a shov- el ready industrial site as well as the mega-site. The county has also developed a Master Plan on how to utilize and develop these assets. Wheatley said Pike County, for the last few years, has been work- ing to develop these assets. Now they are at the point of being able to market them. He said the coun- ty's efforts will shift to going out and selling these assets for pro- spective investors. He said meetings like this are part of that marketing. "It has been incredible," said Wheatley of the development progress in Pike County the last three years. "You have a harmon- ic convergence of three or four factors. The EDC hires a very good young professional. She has grown incredibly over the last few years, especially when it come to leveraging opportunity. When you look at the dollars she has brought to the area, she has brought to the county about 20 times her salary." He said the convergence of private and public investment of money and time has been some- thing that very few communities can match. Bowman Family Hold- ings' investment in the communi- ty is incredible with both time and financial support. "You have the local government, from Mayor Klipsch and Petersburg to coun- ty commissioners and council. They have all been very support- ive," said Wheatley. He also said on the Economic Development Council's board of directors, there has been a tre- mendous "buy in." He said ar- ea utilities and businesses have brought numerous new faces to the board of directors, who are recognizing the work being done by the EDC and its importance. "That level of alignment doesn't happen everywhere. It is actually very rare," said Wheatley. you can learn a lot from the Newspaper! Encourage your children to make reading the newspaper a part of their everyday routine for lifelong learning. Newspapers are living textbooks, helping students develop reading, math, social studies and language skills while exploring the issues affecting our world today. 1 Year Subscriptions start at just $30.00 for Pike and Surrounding Counties CALL 812-354-8500 or e-mail subscriptions@pressdispatch.net Puzzled about what to read? ..and you will have your solution. subscribe to 812-354-8500