On-demand workers and military talent are two labor resources available to employers in Hancock County and across the state.

Both topics headlined a Human Resources Group Lunch & Learn organized by the Hancock Economic Development Council at Hancock Regional Hospital on May 25, 2023. Representatives of Veryable and INvets addressed an audience of about 20 local HR and business leaders.

Veryable is an on-demand marketplace for manufacturing, logistics and warehousing labor. The service connects businesses with workers and connects workers with immediate access to work, the ability to control their own schedule, opportunities to build new skills, and next-day pay.

Josh Mote, Director of Partnerships – Midwest for Veryable, explained that employers use a computer platform to seek and recruit operators for work they need done and lack the labor for. Operators pursue work via a mobile app. Businesses can rate operators and build a list of favorites for future projects.

Josh Mote, Director of Partnerships – Midwest for Veryable, speaks at a Hancock County Human Resources Group Lunch & Learn.

Mote emphasized that the service does not set out to replace full-time employees, but rather connect employers with flexible, on-demand workers they can pay for as needed.

One advantage Veryable has over temp agencies, Mote continued, is that workers represented by them are often looking for full-time work, whereas Veryable operators are not.

INvets is a nonprofit public/private partnership with the state of Indiana that sets out to attract, retain and cultivate the state’s veteran workforce. Brian Evans, Outreach & Partnerships Manager for INvets and a Hancock County native, said military members bring countless transferrable skills as they prepare to leave the service and enter civilian life.

Brian Evans, Outreach & Partnerships Manager for INvets, speaks at a Hancock County Human Resources Group Lunch & Learn.

Evans added that when he speaks with employers, they are often surprised to learn about the military talent available to them and that most service members are engaged in roles not directly related to combat activities.

Jenny Weidner, Director of Human Resources for Hancock Health, also spoke at the luncheon about the healthcare provider’s new Well-Being at Work employer-based clinic and the benefits it offers to employers in the area.

HANCOCK COUNTY – The Hancock Economic Development Council welcomes a new company and faces into its membership.

Derek Rogers and Bill Bolander from Shepherd Insurance in Greenfield recently joined the HEDC. Shepherd Insurance has 36 offices, over 450 employees and has locations in six states. The Greenfield location is unique in that it operates as a local office but has the resources and support from its home office in Carmel. Shepherd Insurance is in the Top 50 largest independent agencies in the nation.

Derek Rogers

After graduating from Ball State University with degrees in Risk Management & Insurance and Business Administration, Derek Rogers joined Shepherd Insurance in 2012. Derek has since earned his Certified Risk Manager (CRM) designation.

Bill Bolander

Bill Bolander is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) and has been with Shepherd Greenfield for over eight years. Bill previously owned his own agency for 32 years and served on the Hancock County Council for eight terms.

Both Derek and Bill are involved in the community and work with many local businesses. Derek and Bill wanted to get involved with the HEDC because of the exciting growth that Hancock County is experiencing. Derek is a lifelong Greenfield resident and Bill has lived in New Palestine for 36 years. Both feel they can contribute to the HEDC with their knowledge of the area and desire to see it grow.

The HEDC also welcomes new faces of member organizations who have recently started representing their companies on the Council. They include Bryan Miller, Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Greenfield Banking Company (GBC Bank); Joe Murphy, Economic Development Specialist for Garmong Construction Services; and Brian Sheehan, Business Development Manager for HWC Engineering.

Bryan Miller has been with GBC Bank for nine years and oversees the Retail and Commercial Lending for the Bank.

Bryan Miller

GBC Bank has eight locations in Greenfield, Fortville, Cumberland, McCordsville and New Palestine to serve residents and businesses. For over 150 years, it has delivered high-quality financial solutions and personalized, friendly service fostered by a company culture of community involvement, support and volunteerism.

Bryan has been involved in the financing of many projects in Hancock County. He is excited to join the HEDC and to be a part of the county’s continuing growth.

In addition to Garmong’s construction work, the company also offers a robust collection of Economic Development Services, including proposal development, industrial park concepts, budgeting and pro-forma calculations, master planning, and site selection assistance. As an Economic Development Specialist for the company, Joe Murphy actively engages with companies and communities to create a business environment conducive to growth and expansion.

Joe Murphy

Before joining Garmong in August of 2022, Joe spent three and a half years working as Lawrence Mayor Steve Collier’s Deputy Chief of Staff. In that role, he oversaw a number of projects related to economic development and quality of life.

Joe is excited to be an active member of the HEDC.

“I know there is a lot that happens in the communities of Hancock County, and these meetings are a great opportunity for me to stay informed on the news of the months for Hancock County, especially news relating to development,” he said. “I am also interested in getting to know my fellow members better. The business and community leaders in Hancock County have a vested interest in seeing their community improve, so I want to open my ears and hear what they want their community to look like in the future.”

Joe added that Garmong hopes its ongoing support of the HEDC and active membership will help continue to spotlight the continuing growth in Hancock County.

“We want to support the ongoing success of this organization and the whole County,” he said.

HWC Engineering, one of the largest engineering firms in the state, is a full-service planning and infrastructure design firm with offices in Indianapolis, Terre Haute, New Albany, Lafayette and Muncie.

Brian Sheehan

Before joining HWC, Brian Sheehan served on Rushville City Council for over 12 years. He also served as the City’s Special Projects and Community Development Director for almost seven years, during which he provided project management, direction, and oversight for key community projects, including five new housing developments, a new City Center & Theater, new Farmer’s Market, new Brew Pub, new Animal Shelter, new businesses and industry, and new Arts Council and art projects.

Brian was also chairman of the Rushville’s Stellar Committee that was designated by the State in 2016, bringing $14 million dollars in public and private investment to the city’s downtown revitalization efforts.

“I am excited to learn more about what’s going on in Hancock County and am hopeful that my past experiences and new position with HWC will be valuable resources for this group,” Brian said.

FORTVILLE – Officials with the Town of Fortville approved continuing important incentives for three businesses.

DEBO Properties, Thursday Pools and Taxman Brewing Co. received the approvals for continuing tax abatements for improvements the businesses have made in recent years.

All of the abatements deduct the assessed value of improvements by a percentage that declines over the course of 10 years until taxes are fully phased in. Abatements are an important incentive for businesses looking to make improvements that result in new buildings, equipment and jobs. The Hancock Economic Development Council regularly assists businesses seeking such incentives.

After abatements are approved, Fortville Town Council reviews them every year to determine whether the businesses are in compliance.

Town Council members on May 1 unanimously approved continuing abatements for 26,600-square-foot and 32,000-square-foot speculative buildings DEBO Properties is planning at 3253 W. 1000N.

The abatements the Council unanimously approved continuing for Thursday Pools regard building additions at its facility at 840 Commerce Parkway as well as new molds and equipment to manufacture one-piece fiberglass pools. Paperwork filed for the abatements report that the company is up to 145 employees.

Council members also unanimously approved continuing a tax abatement for the development of Taxman Brewing Co.’s location at 29 S. Main St. in Fortville. The bar and restaurant has 16 employees, according to paperwork filed for the abatement.

The Hancock Economic Development Council welcomes the decisions, and thanks Fortville Town Council members for all they do to help businesses grow and thrive.

HANCOCK COUNTY – The Hancock Economic Development Council received a $5,000 grant from Duke Energy that will go toward updating the Council’s website.

This award was among more than $125,000 in grants to 26 local and regional economic development organizations to spur new jobs and investment in Indiana communities, according to a news release from Duke Energy. The grants are through Duke Energy’s Partnership Program, which funds marketing and strategic efforts to grow cities and towns.

“We believe that when our communities thrive, we thrive,” said Erin Schneider, Managing Director of Midwest Economic Development for Duke Energy. “That’s why we work hand in hand with local and regional economic development organizations to bring new jobs and capital investment to the communities we serve, and our Partnership Program is one example of that.”

Grant dollars are used to support marketing campaigns and promotional materials, website development and updates, conference and tradeshow registrations and continuing education.

The Hancock Economic Development Council’s website includes information about sites, buildings, utilities and incentives, as well as data on the county’s economy and communities. It also provides information on industries, workforce and schools.

“Our website is the welcome mat of our community for site selectors and companies considering moving to Hancock County,” HEDC Communications Director Mitchell Kirk said. “We are very grateful for Duke Energy’s assistance in bolstering our online presence.”

Since the Partnership Program was established in 2017, Duke Energy has contributed more than $700,000 in grant funding to organizations that are helping create vibrant economies in Indiana.

To qualify for program consideration, each applicant submitted a plan that would have a direct impact on their community’s economic growth. These awards help local and regional economic development organizations fund marketing and strategic efforts in the communities they serve. Amounts varied depending on the size and scope of the project.

Duke Energy Indiana

Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 890,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.

Hancock Economic Development Council Executive Director Randy Sorrell recently returned from a sales trip with the Indiana Municipal Power Agency to Atlanta, Georgia.

Sorrell and Indiana Municipal Power Agency representatives met with several companies and shared information about Hancock County and IMPA.

On his trip, Sorrell also learned about ideas for rural and community development during a visit to Serenbe, an urban village in the middle of a forest outside of Atlanta.

Serenbe is made up of hamlets with complementary commercial centers focused on arts, agriculture, health, play and awareness. The village also has a 25-acre organic farm, seasonal farmer’s market, and year-round cultural events.

“Serenbe is all about common-sense ways to develop places for us to live and how we can interrelate with nature and each other in a meaningful way,” Serenbe Founder Steve Nygren says in a video on the community’s website.

The idea for Serenbe stemmed from concern over urban sprawl disturbing the countryside on the edge of Atlanta.

“We discovered the only way to really save it was to develop portions of it to show that you can actually develop without destroying the natural landscape,” Nygren says.

Serenbe buildings feature rustic architecture and stand close to sidewalks that allow pedestrians to reach every urban area in a matter of minutes. Seventy percent of the community’s landscaping is edible, with blueberries at every crosswalk.

HANCOCK COUNTY – The Hancock Economic Development Council welcomes Mitchell Kirk as its Communications Director.

Kirk

Kirk starts in the position after over 10 years as a newspaper journalist – the last four of which he spent at the Greenfield Daily Reporter, where he covered economic development, business and government.

During his time at the Daily Reporter, Kirk wrote about the development surge in Mt. Comfort and surrounding western Hancock County; the towns of Fortville, McCordsville and Cumberland; as well as Greenfield and Hancock County planning and government.

At HEDC, Kirk will be responsible for communications including news releases; content for the web, social media and publications; and serving in a community engagement role.

“I have been fond of Hancock County ever since I moved to Greenfield and was warmly welcomed into the community,” Kirk said. “My work as a reporter has led me to become fascinated by the way government and business intersect. I am very much looking forward to telling HEDC’s story.”

Before arriving in Greenfield, Kirk was a reporter at the Pharos-Tribune in Logansport, Indiana for six years. He grew up in Michigan and North Dakota, and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from St. John’s University in Queens, New York. He has won several awards from the Hoosier State Press Association throughout his career.

As Hancock County continues to grow, so too do the needs of its economic development organization. Kirk’s appointment marks the continuation of HEDC’s growing staff, following the addition of Project Assistant Cailee Brewer in 2021 and Business Development Director Andrew Carty last year.

“We at HEDC are so busy doing the work or our organization, we have no time to tell our story,” said Randy Sorrell, HEDC Executive Director. “We need someone to get our story out to the public and we couldn’t think of anyone better than Mitchell. He’s a known quantity in our community and everyone comments on what a great writer he is. We’re really pleased to have him become a part of our team here.”

Visit hancockedc.com for more information on the Hancock Economic Development Council.