Steuben County Receives AIC 2020 Local Government Cooperation Award
We’re pleased to announce that a partnership between Steuben County, the Town of Ashley, and Region 3-A recently received the 2020 Local Government Cooperation Award by the Association of Indiana Counties (AIC). Our group was recognized for the infrastructure expansion project for economic development, working with the town of Ashley.
Project Background
Region 3-A partnered with Steuben County officials, officials from the town of Ashley. Together we worked to obtain federal and state grants for the development of Brightmark. Ashley was awarded a grant by the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration to help expand water and sewer access for the new site in development by Brightmark.
Ashley was also awarded $1 million in Community Crossings money for a road, rail crossings and lighting for the Brightmark plant.
The new plant will recycle plastic waste back into fuel and industrial waxes. The innovative company will provide about 130 new jobs for the area. Brightmark is now in the testing phase. It has already produced fuel and is the first commercial scale operation of this type in the nation.
AIC Award Criteria
Counties that win the award must demonstrate that a project meets these criteria:
- Demonstrates cooperation between one or more municipalities and county(s)
- Shows innovation
- Positive impact on the community and the participating governmental units; and potential for the activity to serve as a model for other local governments
The Association of Indiana Counties’ Annual Conference was held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.