Jim Dinkle, Executive Director of the DCADC, guest speaker at FreedomMakers meeting

Jim Dinkle, with the Dubois County Area Development Corporation, DCADC, joined the FreedomMakers on Tuesday, June 14, 2011.

Jim reported that he started work as the executive director of the DCADC on April 19, 2011 after the position was vacant for nearly eight months.

Mr. Dinkle described some of his tasks and vision for his position. For instance, he tries to entice new businesses to locate in Dubois County. He reported that the DCADC gets about two leads a week from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, IEDC. The organization also assists businesses in producing business plans and navigating the permitting process in order to get started correctly. Mr. Dinkle also wants to encourage more businesses to take advantage of DCADC’s Enterprise Loan Fund, which has $100,000 available to local businesses. This loan program has several borrowers, all of which are current on their payments and loan obligations.

Some of his goals are to help develop a rail served commerce park over the next 10 to 20 years in order to compete for businesses needing rail service, develop a Dubois County Film Commission to entice film makers to shoot films in the county, expand the Dubois County/Huntingburg Airport, redevelop the old Jasper Wood Products building, and solidify a retention and expansion call program, which would provide assistance to existing businesses. Mr. Dinkle reported that nearly 85% of new jobs are created by existing businesses so it is vital to retain business in the county.

Also, the DCADC intends to dovetail its efforts with the new state legislation regarding state funding for new businesses and expanding existing businesses. DCADC is awaiting the passage of local county and city ordinances utilizing the new legislation.

It was reported that members of the DCADC will be making a trip to Washington D.C. the week of September 13. The goal of the trip is to meet with Senators Lugar and Coats, and Congressmen Young and Buschon in order to advocate for our local businesses and communicate the needs of Dubois County. One such need is the extension and expansion of the airport and US231.

The board members of the DCADC meet on the second Thursday of each month, beginning at noon, and are open to the public. The DCADC office is located at 1103 Main Street in Jasper, across from the Jasper Public Library. Mr. Dinkle encouraged anyone who has a concern about business or economic development to contact him or any one of the board members.

For more information about the DCADC, visit their website at www.dcadc.org.