Delaware County Delegation Returns From Europe

(photo courtesy of the East Central Indiana Regional Planning District)

Officials in Delaware County have returned from a recent trip to Europe. The county says the visit to Germany and the Netherlands included meetings with companies and trade organizations interested in establishing operations in Indiana or promoting the state as a location for development or expansion.

The delegation included County Commissioner James King, Director of Municipal and Economic Affairs Brad Bookout, and ECI Regional Planning District Director Bill Walters. The group met with representatives of the Transatlantic Business and Investment Council, the chambers of commerce in Brandenburg and Munich, Germany, the U.S. Embassy in Berlin and the U.S. Consulate in Munich.

The Delaware County team also served as presenters to more than 30 businesses taking part in a USA master class event known as "Doing Business in the U.S." The county says two German companies pledged to visit Delaware County as early as this summer to discuss potentially expanding operations there.

"The Delaware County team is focused on attracting investment that will diversify the local economy, increase the tax base, provide a range of employment opportunities, act as a multiplier for local businesses and increase our region’s global footprint," the county said in a news release.

More than 450 European businesses have operations in Indiana, accounting for nearly 113,000 jobs.

(Pictured left to right) Delaware County Commissioner James King, ECI Regional Planning District Director Bill Walter, PONS Atlantic Partners CEO Thomas Schwegmann, Delaware County Director of Municipal and Economic Affairs Brad Bookout