Economic-development director outlines bike-and-pedestrian plan, regional tax-credit opportunities

Davis County economic development staff briefed the Washington Common Council July 13 on regional redevelopment tax-credit programs, a local expansion at WTech, and the countywide bike-and-pedestrian improvement plan.

"There's a redevelopment regional redevelopment tax credit project — about $50 million divided across regions — and a small-town opportunities initiative focused on downtown repurposing," the presenter said while summarizing two Indiana Economic Development Corporation efforts aimed at redevelopment and downtown reinvestment.

The presenter reported that a shell-building purchaser, WTech, was approved by the planning commission for a significant expansion and that the county is working with the company on an additional five-acre parcel. On the bike-and-pedestrian plan, the presenter said there was a recent public meeting with reasonable participation and an advisory committee nearly finished with its work; staff said grant funding would cover roughly 80% of the plan's project costs and that the plan must be completed by the end of September for grant programming timelines.

Council members asked about specific sidewalk connections and upgrades — for example, links from the highway to downtown and to parks — and staff pointed to the recent streetscaping work on U.S. 50 as a backbone for future connections. The presenter urged residents or developers with project ideas to get in touch as those state programs and incentives become available.

The council received handouts on the programs and the bike plan; the presenter said more details would be provided to staff and that the advisory committee had one meeting left to complete its recommendations.