An agreement for the Barry County Economic Development Alliance and its parent company, the Barry County Chamber of Commerce, to provide services to the county for $133,891 for one year was recommended for approval by unanimous vote of county commissioners Tuesday.
The funding for the agreement, which is approved every year, is in the 2019 general fund budget.
Travis Alden, president of the organizations, gave an overview of the economic development programs, stressing that they no longer “chase smokestacks” and have a focus much wider than that.
The mission of the BCEDA is “to utilize a progressive approach to create an environment for the retention and expansion of business and industry in Barry County consistent with the preservation of our rural quality of life.” The overall goal of the alliance is to prioritize strategic goals for their impact on Barry County; to build prosperity in the community and improve lives in Barry County.
Alden said the four most important positive impacts the BCEDA strives to have on the Barry County community are: stimulating economic growth, improving quality of life for res.idents, being the catalyst, maximizing Barry County’s potential and being the convener, Alden said.
Aden listed some of the initiatives under the four large goals, noting, “Everything we do is under these four areas.” For more on the BCEDA, go to the county website, scroll to the bottom of the first page and click on “latest board packet.”
Commissioners also recommended approval of:
*Youth Center Juvenile Case Management software for the Family Division of the Barry County Trial Court that will do away with manual tracking, allow easier compliance of changing rules, increased efficiency for staff, better data collection and more time with juveniles by probation officers. The $3,500 cost for the 90-day trial of the system will be reimbursed by the state.
*also to do with juveniles in the court system, commissioners recommended approval of a Regional Detention Support Services grant of $10,000 to pay for transportation of juveniles to court or residential facilities by licensed, independent contractors. Transporters must pass background checks, and attend training; they will to be paid $12 an hour and mileage, currently .58 cents a mile.
The recommendations will be acted on at the commissioner’s regular board meeting Feb. 26.
