Porter County group will work to bring in jobs

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Updated: February 17, 2012 8:06AM

Porter County Commissioner John Evans, Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas and Portage Mayor Jim Snyder announced in December the creation of a nine-member Porter County Economic Development Cabinet to create a strategic plan for job creation in Porter County.

“There’s been an awful lot of good inquiries and applications for membership,” Evans said.

Cabinet members will not be paid. Two who have agreed to serve are Harley Snyder and Jeff Good, Porter County’s appointees to the Regional Development Authority.

Costas and Snyder will name two appointees. The commissioners will name the remaining five members. An announcement on the appointees is expected this week.

“We want a good mix of intellectually based entrepreneurs who have done for themselves what we want them to do for Porter County,” Evans said.

Evans expects the cabinet will meet shortly after appointments have been made.

“They will probably interview and hire a consultant to conduct the study,” he said.

Robert Thompson, Porter County Plan Commission executive director, has agreed to serve as a cabinet staffer, according to Evans, and he expects Costas and Snyder also will loan some staff members to the cabinet.

“The cabinet will have a facilitator so all the appointees will be equal,” said Evans.

Evans sees the cabinet as being proactive in searching for businesses that would be suitable for Porter County.

“There are many agencies out there that do this kind of thing; choose them and get the plan done,” Evans said.

To Evans, the nature of the jobs attracted is relatively unimportant.

“Whether it’s industry, technology, transportation — we’re looking for something higher-paying,” he said.

But Evans is interested in something environmentally benign.

“We have a pretty good jewel in the Dunes, and we don’t want to mess that up,” he said.

The cabinet is expected to complete its task in 12 to 18 months and is expected to cost about $100,000. The commissioners have committed to funding 75 percent of the budget.

“If we have to go back and get more money, I think it’s money well-spent,” Evans said. “Portage and Valparaiso are going to pledge some money.

“Maybe we can approach each municipality for some money. Everyone should have some skin in the game.”