ECHO Housing Director Steps Down

The former director of ECHO Housing Corp. in Evansville has stepped down. The organization has not released a specific reason for Stephanie TenBarge’s departure, however the Courier & Press reports TenBarge used ECHO funds to make her personal property tax payment in the spring of 2017.

The publication cites records from the Vanderburgh County Treasurer’s Office, which shows the tax bill, totaling more than $1,600  was paid from an ECHO Housing Corp. check. Following TenBarge’s departure, Assistant Director Chad Metz has been named interim director of the organization.

Our partners at WEHT-TV in Evansville report the change in leadership shouldn’t affect the city’s potential for federal funding through its Promise Zone designation, which is led by ECHO. The city received the designation in 2016 and is one of only 22 cities throughout the country to have received it.