WASHINGTON, Indiana – The Daviess County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) was cited for its leadership role in supporting the development of the tri-county WestGate @ Crane Technology Park by Building Indiana News magazine, which named the county and the park as the Southern Winner of its first-ever 2011 Economic Development Award.

Daviess County was highlighted for securing $4.1 million in bonds in 2011 to purchase 300 acres for expanding the WestGate park, according to Ron Arnold, executive director of DCEDC.

As the magazine noted: “As part of its initial efforts behind WestGate, Daviess County – supported by Indianapolis consulting firm MEK Group – created an EDIT tax to spur development in and around the park, got it certified as a Certified Technology Park and established the Daviess County Economic Development Foundation. The Foundation today controls more than $6 million to support projects in the county and park development.”

Continuing in its award statement, the magazine said: “Arnold credits several groups with key roles in the [WestGate] success story, including the [Daviess County Economic Development] Foundation, the Southern Indiana Development Commission, The MEK Group, and most of all the three counties.”

Arnold noted that with the expected opening of I-69 in Daviess County and nearby the WestGate in 2012, the 300 acres purchased by the county will give the region a strategic advantage in attracting and securing new developers for the park and the surrounding region.

“With I-69 set to open and nearly a quarter of a million square feet in all-new commercial buildings built over the past few years, the WestGate and the region now have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create and capture real economic growth,” Arnold said, adding that the leadership at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) at Crane played a “critical role” in helping the park achieving its leadership position in the region.



About the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation - As a private/public partnership for county-wide economic development, the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) is working to build a foundation for a better tomorrow in the communities within Daviess County, Indiana. A founding organization of the WestGate @ Crane Technology Park, DCEDC's mission is to develop a process which improves the standard of living for all citizens by creating, retaining and reinvesting wealth while protecting the environment. Daviess County is a strong supporter and member of the Radius Indiana regional partnership. For more information, please visit the DCEDC Web site at www.dcedc.net, or contact Ron Arnold directly at rarnold@dcedc.net or 812-254-1500. For media inquiries, please contact Michael Snyder at The MEK Group at 317-805-4870 or e-mail: msnyder@themekgroup.com.