Madison county forges ahead with new economic development coordinator position
To boost economic growth, the Madison County Commissioners approved an agreement creating an Economic Development Coordinator position. Former Norfolk city administrator Andy Colvin, now an Economic Development Consultant for Norfolk, is their candidate in partnership with Battle Creek and Madison. Colvin's compensation will come from a fund contributed annually by the city of Madison ($126,000), along with Battle Creek and Madison County, each pledging $42,000.
With the agreement officially sanctioned, the focus shifts towards leveraging the Economic Development Coordinator to cultivate thriving communities, ultimately broadening the tax base in the area. This expansion alleviates the property tax strain on agricultural producers.
The county benefits from taxes on each acre of developed land within city limits, which allows for the expansion of county services to rural areas, such as road and bridge improvements, and law enforcement, which strengthens agriculture. A robust agricultural economy subsequently boosts spending and services within those cities, driving up sales tax collections that, in turn, enhance services and overall quality of life.
"We have to understand that communities in Madison County are not in competition with each other," officials emphasize. "Cities are just as reliant on agricultural producers as producers are on strong and growing cities." The agreement is designed to complement and expand existing efforts, injecting additional resources into the local economy. Madison and Battle Creek are proactively shaping their destinies, contributing to the prosperity of Madison County and, by extension, the State of Nebraska.
Madison Mayor Robert Fite notes, "This is going to be great for everyone. Most people don’t realize this, but without a dedicated position like this, the work often falls on our office employees or the Community Redevelopment Authority, who already have their primary responsibilities. Our clerk has to focus on clerk duties, our treasurer on treasurer duties, making it challenging to adequately address economic development tasks."
The agreement, set to commence in October pending the city of Madison's approval of Colvin, spans one year and includes a provision for review by the county attorney to ensure any necessary modifications. It also stipulates a six-month notice period should either party wish to terminate the agreement. Conversely, should both parties remain satisfied, the agreement contains provisions for a potential three-year extension, paving the way for sustained progress and development.