State Dubs Hancock County Site ‘Shovel-Ready’
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA Hancock County property has received a key economic development designation. Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann has named Progress Park Phase II “shovel-ready.” January 21, 2014
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann today declared that Progress Park Phase II located in Hancock County is Shovel-Ready “Silver” based on the criteria of the state's Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). The Shovel Ready designation shows the business community that Progress Park Phase II is ready for economic development.
To be declared “Shovel-Ready” a site must have a base level of defined boundaries with a clear title, established price, demonstration of executive level local government support, defined utility capacity, and provided documentation such as Phase I environmental assessment, ALTA survey, and wetland delineation.
A Shovel-Ready “Silver” site will have current documentation, proper zoning, infrastructure to the property line as well as no environmental or wetland considerations.
“Greenfield and Hancock County have taken a big step forward with this designation because attracting business development is one of the keys to community prosperity,” said Bill Davis, Executive Director for OCRA.
“We are pleased to have worked with private developers to increase available shovel ready land in Hancock County. It continues to show that Greenfield and Hancock County are great places to locate business,” said Nolan “Skip” Kuker, CEcD Hancock County Economic Development Council.
The goal of the Shovel-Ready program is to expedite the business location process by making sites more attractive to companies who are looking to relocate or expand.
The OCRA led Shovel-Ready program also works closely with the state's Fast Access Site Team (FAST), which is comprised of multiple state agencies, including Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC).
Please visit www.in.gov/ocra/2622.htm for additional information on the Shovel Ready program.
The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) was created by legislation in 2005, making rural Indiana a major focus for the first time. OCRA’s mission is to promote community prosperity to strengthen Indiana's economy by providing capacity-building solutions to assure ready, marketable, and competitive communities for economic growth. For additional information on OCRA and its programs visit www.in.gov/ocra.
Source: The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs