VERMILLION COUNTY ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 

HISTORY

   The Vermillion County Board of Commissioners set up the Vermillion County Economic Development Commission with three members, per Indiana State law. The Economic Development Commission was sworn into law by the Vermllion County Judge in 1994.

   This three person Economic Development Commission then selected community leaders for a steering committee to learn the best way to approach the challenges of economic development and the lack of an organized economic development program. Several meetings were held to identify the problems, to formulate objectives, and to decide which objective should be addressed first. It became very apparent that no project could succeed without a full time, knowledgeable, experienced individual on board as a paid executive director.

   The steering committee made a presentation to the Vermillion County Board of Commissioners and the Vermillion County Council to institute an EDIT (economic development income tax) to pay for an executive director and for the office and clerical support on a full time basis. After the normal time stated by law, each of the steps were approved by legal process, and the Vermillion County Economic Development Council (VCEDC) was established. The Council is made up of the three members of the Vermillion County Economic Development Commission and six other individuals selected from the banking industry, the ten largest employers in Vermillion County, Farm Bureau and a community representative. Later on a member of the County Council and County Commissioners were added to the Council for a total of eleven members.

   After a search and interview process, the Council hired an Executive Director in February of 1996. The office is located in Clinton which is the largest populated city of Vermillion County.

   Since that time four companies have located in Vermillion County: Hogslat, Curry, Ice and Coal, Duke Energy, and National Gypsum. Inland Container has entered a joint venture with Caraustar Corporation to form Premier Boxboard Corporation. Vermillion County Economic Council has been very involved in each of these projects.

   By far the largest project in Vermillion County will be the return of the Newport Chemical Depot to the local public/private sector in the next few years. This property has the potential to provide an answer to many challenges that have faced Vermillion County in the last 30 years. VCEDC is working with Federal and State governments to take advantage of all the possible programs available to achieve the highest and best use of this valuable property.