Grant County Economic Growth Council Inc.

“The 990 will be approved by the executive committee before filing.”

“The organization regularly and consistently monitors and enforces the conflict of interest policy.”

“The executive committee reviews and approves the executive director's compensation.”

“Irs form 990 for the last three years is posted on guidestar.org.”

“Governing documents are available upon request during regular business hours.”

“The grant for grads project (the project) provides financial assistance to graduates of universities, colleges, or technical schools who agree to live and work in grant county. The project brings local business owners, realtors, and landlords together to reduce the cost of living for graduates working in the community. Grant for grads is an initiative of the grant county economic growth council that is administered by affordable housing & community development corporation. Together, these organizations are working to make grant county a better place to "live, work, play, and stay", as the program motto describes. The project provides employers with skilled workers, landlords with responsible and gainfully employed tenants, and realtors with a larger client base. Having an abundance of educated workers in the area also provides incentives to businesses looking to relocate or start up in grant county. During 2015 the growth council assisted 24 household individuals with the purchase of a home or rental assistance. These 24 households represented 1,300,000 of new household income to grant county and brought 9 new school age children to the community. The growth council has a revolving loan fund for local businesses in grant county to assist with acquisition and development of land; construction, repairs or modernization of buildings and equipment; and/or startup operating costs and working capital. The council currently loans funds to three grant county businesses. In 2015 loans were made for a coffee shop in upland and for a wireless internet service provider. The funds to the internet provicer allowed them to install fiber cables which linked a local school corporation's buildings to the internet. In 2014 the growth council launched grant's got talent a collaboration with ivy tech community college of indiana and workone northeast, indiana's workforce development group. The goal of grant's got talent is an initiative derived from a group of regional manufacturers and community leaders to address the skills gap manufacturers are encounter in potential employees in east-central indiana. The goal is to increase the employability of our residents and provide the industry with an employment pool of candidates that will help to increase their profitability and decrease turnover. In 2015 the growth council successfully secured a 250,000 grant from the indiana office of community and rural affairs allowing the program to expand its offering to include higher skilled industrial technology positions. Young entrepreneurs program celebrated its fifth year in 2015. The young entrepreneurs program is a ten week program for 30 high schools students developed and operated by the growth council. The program provides the students with exposure to local business leaders as they learn what it takes to create a successful business plan. The program culminates in a competition with the winning team members receiving college scholarships.”