Make My Move takes steps to attract remote workers in Richmond area
RICHMOND, Ind. — An Make My Move interlocal agreement to relocate remote workers to the city and county received Richmond Common Council approval Monday night.
That came hours after the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County's board also approved the partnership agreement among the city, county government and EDC working with TMap LLC. Wayne County's commissioners and council had previously approved the agreement, while council and the EDC had appropriated funds.
Each entity has agreed to initially pay $20,000 to receive Indiana Economic Development Corporation matching dollars for TMap's assistance with the Make My Move program. The initial $120,000 — $60,000 local and a $60,000 IEDC match — sets up and markets the program and recruits remote workers who could potentially relocate, said Beth Fields, the city's director of strategic initiatives.
The local partnership would offer incentives to attract those relocating. Another $120,000, again split between local money and IEDC matching money, could be used to pay for incentives or as cash incentives.
However, Fields said donated incentives are lessening that financial burden. She said other communities are finding non-cash incentives effective, citing a Greensburg program that provides grandparents on demand. In that program, local "grandparents" are available to babysit for relocated families or attend functions such as school grandparents days.
The goal is to attract 20 workers making $100,000 to relocate into Wayne County and the city. Council member Larry Parker opposed the agreement in the 8-1 vote. He said he does not think remote workers making six figures will relocate here.
Fields said the local Make My Move committee includes three remote workers making that amount, and there's confidence the program will be successful.
"I guess you'll have to prove it to me," Parker said before his no vote.
Rose View funding
Council unanimously approved an ordinance providing $163,436 additional funding for Rose View Transit.
Of that, $147,980 would come from additional federal funding that became available for the Indiana Department of Transportation to distribute. Additional rider fares are estimated to provide $10,000 of that number, with $5,456 to come from Local Income Tax funds.
That increases the Rose View budget to $1,769,137, including $395,606 from LIT money.
The additional money is expected to pay for repairs and maintenance.
RP&L equipment
Functioning as the Richmond Power & Light board, council members awarded bids for a pickup truck, mini-derrick and mini-derrick trailer Monday night.
Wetzel Ford will provide a 2022 or 2023 Ford Ranger Supercab 4x4 for a total price of $39,936 after trade-in. The truck will be used by Parallax.
Altec Industries of St. Joseph, Missouri, will provide the mini-derrick and its trailer. The mini-derrick bid is $198,257 and the trailer bid is $23,750 for a $222,007 total that's $7,007 more than budgeted.
A previous bucket truck purchase, however, was $24,810 less than budgeted, so the line department's capital fund remains under budget for the year.
Rolling blackouts
General Manager Tony Foster addressed media reports of possible Indiana rolling blackouts this summer.
RP&L is served by a different regional transmission operator than most of Indiana. The RTO coordinates, controls and monitors multi-state electric grid operations. North America has 10 RTOs.
The Midcontinent Independent System Operator that serves most of Indiana and other states had broached the topic of possible shortages causing rolling blackouts during peak usage times. RP&L, however, is served by the PJM regional operator.
Foster said there is no indication PJM anticipates rolling blackouts, something he confirmed with RP&L's power cooperative, the Indiana Municipal Power Agency.
RP&L has additional generation capacity from its Whitewater Valley Generating Station on U.S. 27 and combustion turbines on Gates Road, Foster said. In addition, IMPA's solar fields in Richmond can provide about 30 megawatts of power directly to RP&L's grid.
This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Make My Move takes steps to attract remote workers
