Author Archives: Terre Haute Department of Redevelopment

Committee Recommendation Would Place Terre Haute Department of Redevelopment under Management of the Terre Haute Economic Development Corporation

economic development

TERRE HAUTE, Ind., April 11, 2016 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- A search committee tasked with finding a replacement for the retired director of the Terre Haute Department of Redevelopment will recommend that the Terre Haute Economic Development Corporation (THEDC) assume management of the department. The recommendation will be made at the April 20 meeting of the City of Terre Haute Redevelopment Commission.

Since the January 29 retirement of long-time redevelopment director Cliff Lambert, THEDC president Steve Witt has served as interim director of the department. Witt had been the department's director prior to Lambert.

"There is a good deal of overlap between economic development and community redevelopment," said Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett. "Since Steve Witt assumed the interim director's role in early February, the transition has been seamless. We think it makes perfect sense to formalize and continue this relationship with the THEDC."

Bennett said, "By combining our economic development and redevelopment efforts, our overall work product will be streamlined and cost effective, thus making our community a more attractive place to live, while bolstering our business attraction and retention opportunities."

In addition to its normal business attraction and retention efforts, the THEDC manages the Vigo County Department of Redevelopment on behalf of the Vigo County Commissioners and the Vigo County Redevelopment Commission. By assuming management of the City of Terre Haute Department of Redevelopment, both the City of Terre Haute and Vigo County redevelopment efforts will be under the umbrella of the Terre Haute Economic Development Corporation.

Redevelopment Commission member and search committee chair Brian Conley said, "It is an exciting time for the Terre Haute Redevelopment Commission. We will now be coordinating our economic development efforts with Vigo County and the THEDC. The commission has taken this bold step to move the City of Terre Haute forward at a time when we will be doing more with less funding."

The Terre Haute Economic Development Corporation's Board of Directors approved the proposed management initiative, subject to Redevelopment Commission approval, at a special call meeting on April 6. Should the Redevelopment Commission provide its approval on April 20, it is anticipated that the new initiative would formally begin on May 2, 2016.

To learn more, visit: http://www.terrehaute.in.gov/main/departments/redevelopment

About City of Terre Haute Department of Redevelopment:

Through the administration of programs designed to eliminate slum and blight, create affordable housing opportunities, build and maintain the physical infrastructure of eligible neighborhoods, provide for urgent need and facilitate economic development activities, the Department works diligently toward improving the quality of life for all citizens of the City of Terre Haute.

About Terre Haute Economic Development Corporation:

The Terre Haute Economic Development Corporation drives business attraction and retention efforts on behalf of the City of Terre Haute and Vigo County. The THEDC implements a focused strategy that aggressively addresses our challenges, works to keep Terre Haute/Vigo County dynamic and vibrant, plus helps position the community for changes in the U.S. and global economies.

To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/committee-recommendation-would-place-terre-haute-department-of-redevelopment-under-management-of-the-terre-haute-economic-development-corporation-2016-0411-04.shtml.

NEWS SOURCE Terre Haute Department of Redevelopment :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2016 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

City of Terre Haute, Indiana, Resumes Blight Elimination Program

Terre Haute Indiana

TERRE HAUTE, Ind., March 24, 2016 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- The City of Terre Haute, Ind., and its program partner, the Terre Haute Department of Redevelopment, have approved 27 vacant/blighted residential properties for demolition through Round Two of Indiana's Blight Elimination Program (BEP).

The Department of Redevelopment has already completed the acquisition and demolition of approximately 30 residential structures with funds awarded to the city by the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority (IHCDA)'s Blight Elimination Program. The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Treasury's Hardest Hit Fund, aims to revitalize neighborhoods in cities across the state.

Successful Round One and Round Two BEP applications prepared by the Terre Haute Department of Redevelopment have provided the city with approximately $2 million of additional funding sources to address the removal of vacant/blighted residential structures.

"The Blight Elimination Program has greatly benefited the community by providing significant funding to demolish condemned homes that create both a potentially unsafe and unsightly environment in our city," said Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett.

According to the Department of Redevelopment, all 26 properties from the city's Round One BEP award have been demolished, and significant funds remain to apply to additional properties. The Department anticipates that an additional 40 to 50 residential structures will be demolished throughout the life of the BEP program.

Phil Kesner, Grants and Planning Administrator for the Terre Haute Department of Redevelopment, said, "The Blight Elimination Program has helped the city stabilize and revitalize central neighborhoods, raising property values or at least stabilizing property values in neighborhoods, thus encouraging future investment."

On September 4, 2015, former Indiana Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann recognized the City of Terre Haute's accomplishments under the BEP program as among the best in Indiana.

More information: http://terrehaute.in.gov/.

To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/city-of-terre-haute-indiana-resumes-blight-elimination-program-2016-0324-03.shtml.

NEWS SOURCE Terre Haute Department of Redevelopment :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2016 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.