As business growth occurs, we’re glad
our partners have helped us plan well
Comedian Steven Wright once said,
“You can’t have everything. Where would
you put it?”
That is a situation Elkhart County is
facing right now. We lead the nation in
job creation. Companies are expanding.
New companies are coming to town.
Do we have the inventory of industrial
buildings to satisfy the growth? Do we
have available land for new construction?
Do we have the right policies in place for
utility extension? Do we have the right
styles of housing for the employees?
These are exciting problems to have.
We have the luxury of trying to match
our existing housing and facilities with
growth. Sure, we have vacant factories
around our county, but those may not
be suitable for modern manufacturing
or other businesses. Vacant homes can
still be found around the county, but
those may not meet the needs of our
families. Land is available, but it might
be a brownfield site, facing potential
environmental remediation. Given the
recent debate over compact/PILOT fees,
municipalities may not be as eager to
extend vital utilities.
One thing we have learned over the
past years is we need to be prepared for
growth. We will have less stress on our
existing resources if we are smart about
growth. We don’t want to infringe on the
free market’s ability to find opportunities,
but we should be ready to read trends
and act accordingly. We are fortunate to
have private-sector partners helping us.
Each year, FM Stone Commercial hosts
a breakfast and shares commercial and
industrial real estate activity and trends.
Bradley Co. regularly publishes reports
with this type of information, too. The
Economic Development Corp. of Elkhart
County keeps us informed of expansions
and new companies coming to town.
We are certainly happy to have the
growth we are experiencing. And we are
happy to have so many helpful partners
as we work with our government and
community agencies to continue the
growth and make it happen as smoothly
as possible.
Wish List: What we like
At the Greater Elkhart Chamber, we hear a lot
of ideas. Some are well constructed and ready
to action, others are pie in the sky. We think
pretty highly of the ideas we’re listing in this
format throughout the magazine. They all have
potentially positive effects on the local real
estate market. Have others you’d like to share?
Join the conversation at fb.com/elkhartchamber.
Ambassadors Claudia Meenan, ext. 134
Annual Golf Outing Denise Polachek, ext. 132
Bristol Business Denise Polachek, ext. 132
Business Recognition and Beautification Denise Polachek, ext. 132
Economic Development Trevor Wendzonka, ext. 110
Education Kathy Cardwell, ext. 122
Environmental Trevor Wendzonka, ext. 110
4 GREATER ELKHART CHAMBER
Government Trevor Wendzonka, ext. 110
Leadership Denise Polachek, ext. 132
OSHA Jim Walsh, ext. 121
Technology Jim Walsh, ext. 121
Transportation Kay House-Clark, ext. 138
Women’s Claudia Meenan, ext. 134
Young Professionals Denise Polachek, ext. 132