Hancock Health President and CEO Steve Long, left, speaks as Greenfield Mayor Chuck Fewell, Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors President Dede Allender, Hancock County Council President Jeannine Gray and Hancock Economic Development Council Executive Director Randy Sorrell listen on at the State of the Community event.
Mitchell Kirk | Daily Reporter
HANCOCK COUNTY – The state of the community is strong and poised to continue to be, according to leaders representing local government, economic development, commerce and health care.
They touted 2022 accomplishments and looked forward to the rest of this year at the annual State of the Community event this week hosted by the Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce at NineStar Connect.
Guest speakers included Greenfield Mayor Chuck Fewell, Hancock County Council President Jeannine Gray, Hancock Economic Development Council Executive Director Randy Sorrell, Hancock Health President and CEO Steve Long and Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors President Dede Allender.
Fewell
Fewell noted it was his 10th and final time speaking at the State of the Community, as the Greenfield mayor is not seeking re-election this year. One thing he noted that made up much of his final term and 2022 were the projects facilitated by the city’s acceptance into the state’s Stellar Communities Program. Greenfield learned in 2018 that it would join the program, and will wrap up its list of initiatives through it this year.
Fewell admitted he was not initially fond of the city pursuing the Stellar program, explaining he felt it was tough to justify revenue taken from other city entities required for matching funds. But he acknowledged it has led to the creation of the city’s new Depot Street Park, which drew thousands to concerts there last summer. It also facilitated Michael’s Playground, named after his late grandson, an inclusive playground that children with disabilities can use.
Several downtown building facades have also been able to be improved through the Stellar program.
“Was it worth it?” Fewell said. “In my opinion, yes.”
Public safety was among Fewell’s talking points as well, including police getting trained in critical incident responses with the objective of diffusing domestic disputes. He also referred to the Baby Box getting ready to be available at Greenfield Fire Territory Station 2, a device that allows a mother in crisis to legally, safely, securely and anonymously surrender her baby if she is unable to care for the newborn.
Fewell recognized new trails furthering park connectivity, a $75,000 grant for exploring fast-charging electric vehicle battery charging stations in the city, a new animal shelter that will celebrate its grand opening on Friday and new water infrastructure on the way.
He also pointed to the city’s new wastewater treatment plant that’s currently under construction. While customer fees had to be increased to fund its far-higher-than-expected cost, he said rates are still some of the lowest in the area.
A transplant to Greenfield, Fewell said he’s enjoyed his time as mayor.
“When I came here, the city is just what it is – welcoming,” he said. “It opened its arms.”
Gray
Hancock County government had multiple accomplishments throughout 2022, Gray said, most notably the completion of its new jail. She praised the mental health programs that are being implemented there aimed at reducing recidivism.
“We can’t just house inmates, we have to do something better,” Gray said.
Officials funded a county-wide sewer and water study in 2022 as well.
“Those outcomes now are going to be used as a road map for infrastructure throughout all different parts of the county,” Gray said, adding she looks forward to it helping areas she feels are under-served. “Eventually I’d like to see that road map lead right to the eastern borders of the county to give those individuals the same amenities that we have and we take for granted in other areas of the county.”
Hancock County received over $15 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, which the county commissioners are dividing among mental health initiatives, infrastructure and nonprofit organizations.
“This funding takes a lot of the costs of other projects off the backs of our taxpayers,” Gray said.
She also reflected on the county’s new public defender’s office, funding for nine new sheriff’s deputies, pay increases for deputies and 2023’s budget of about $24 million.
Gray said she and her colleagues will pay special attention to tax breaks moving forward, adding the county’s current development trend has been posing challenges for infrastructure and public safety.
“We are looking for some higher-paying jobs here and less speculative-types of buildings,” she said.
Sorrell
The Hancock Economic Development Council received 156 requests for information about sites for potential projects in 2022, Sorrell said, adding the organization was able to respond to 88. An inability to respond is usually due to the county lacking something the requester needs, he continued, like rail access, a port or a specifically sized building.
Of the 88 requests the economic development council responded to, 73 were for manufacturing, Sorrell said, marking a trend straying from the logistics-heavy one that’s dominated western Hancock County over the past several years. He added several requests have had to do with making electric vehicle batteries and microchips, which often come with high-paying jobs but also large utility needs.
“I’m not counting chickens until they’re hatched, but one of those things will land here at some point, and I think in the not-too-distant future,” Sorrell said.
Sorrell also pointed to the county’s new comprehensive plan, which includes an economic development strategy. He noted the economic development council’s growing staff. Additionally, he recalled the $5 million a region that includes Hancock County received from Indiana’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative, and said he looks forward to a likely sequel to that program.
The economic development council has been involved in plans for the Hancock County Innovation and Education center, envisioned to provide vocational and technical education for high school students and adults.
“That’s something I’m very excited about because we’ll not only be able to give nine- through 12th-graders these career pathways, which the State Board of Education now requires, but to the extent that we draw these higher-tech, higher-skilled manufacturing jobs – we’ll be able to upscale our existing workforce to meet the needs of our local economy,” Sorrell said.
Long
Health care faced plenty of challenges as the COVID-19 pandemic continued throughout 2022, Long recalled, with a spike in influenza not helping matters toward the end of the year.
“We were full the entire year,” he said, adding Hancock Regional Hospital will add capacity in 2023.
Last year also brought plenty of positives, Long continued, including the ongoing development of its Hancock Gateway Park at Mt. Comfort Road and I-70. A Starbucks is now open, work continues on a long-term care community expected to open later this year, a pediatric oral surgery office is slated and Hancock Health has plans to finish the second floor of its existing building in the park.
In June, Hancock Health became the 38th member of the Mayo Clinic’s Care Network, giving patients access to a medical organization that’s been operating for over 150 years and has thousands of physicians. Long said the relationship has so far led to over 30 remote consultations and a half-dozen patients getting sent to Mayo’s main hub in Rochester, Minnesota.
Long recalled the $10 million renovation of Hancock Regional Hospital’s main operating room suite as well, which will be called the Dr. Ted Gabrielsen Center for Surgical Excellence.
Hancock Health’s wellness centers in Greenfield, McCordsville and New Palestine passed 12,000 members last year, who made up about 500,000 visits.
“So when we talk about our goal of making Hancock County the healthiest county in the state of Indiana, that is part of it,” Long said.
Allender
The Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce added 22 members in 2022, Allender noted, bringing its total to 321 members representing over 960 employees.
“That’s a tremendous number of people that we’re reaching out to,” she said.
She recalled other 2022 successes, including the 13th annual Chocolate Walk, sold-out golf tournament, legislative breakfast, 15 ribbon-cuttings and strong turnouts for Chamber luncheons.
Member luncheons will continue throughout 2023, Allender said.
“Those are a great opportunity to network with other Chamber members,” she added.
This year’s lunches will cover topics like cybersecurity and active shooter situations, Allender continued, and feature presentations from Healthy365 and the Hancock County Public Library.
The chamber is also starting a small business coaching series led by local real estate professional Hart Summeier. The first session is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Jan. 31 and will focus on custom domain URLs and personalized email addresses. Sign-up is $5, which covers food. More information is available on the chamber’s website, greenfieldcc.org.
