Dubois Strong announces $10,000 commitment to Mid-State Corridor

Dubois Strong has committed $10,000 over a two year period to the Mid-State Corridor project, formerly called the Interstate 67 project.

This venture would link Dubois County directly to Owensboro and Indianapolis, connecting the county via the proposed new road’s intersection with I-69.

Hank Menke, president and CEO of OFS Brands in Huntingburg, leader of the Mid-State Corridor group who was also named to the state’s Blue Ribbon Commission, said the funding will support the group’s efforts for the next two years and will be used for engineering work and studying possible ways to pay for the project, such as a tax, tolls or local government involvement.

“The Mid-State Corridor could benefit Dubois County in a big way. Studies show that communities within 10 miles of an interstate are more likely to bring in jobs than those that are not,” said Menke.

After the publication of the Cambridge Study in 2012, the Mid-State Corridor group had findings that indicated the corridor would greatly impact the local economy and address safety issues on U.S. 231. The corridor would use the improved U.S. 231 and then connect to I-69 through the Mid-State Corridor.

The money will be used for pre-engineering work and design and bring in experts to determine how the road can be funded.

“This project would create so many possibilities,” said Ed Cole, president of Dubois Strong, “An interstate-quality northern route that enabled a direct connection to I-69 would be a logistics economic game changer for Dubois County, Southern Indiana, and areas of Northern Kentucky. The decision to support this venture stems from the potential to foster greater economic growth and strengthen the county’s competitive position, summarizing the entire mission of our organization’s strategic plan.”

Dubois Strong, the county’s economic development organization, is a public-private partnership devoted to fostering economic growth to drive retention and expansion of existing local business while attracting new employers and supporting entrepreneurs, thereby strengthening the county’s competitive position and generating prosperity for all residents.