NOW Y OUR N EIGHBOR Ladd plans to bring more transparency to FEDCO

In January 2023, Fulton Economic Development Corporation named Michael Ladd as its new director. Among his immediate goals are to make FEDCO “more transparent.”

Noting the county halved its funding to the organization this year, Ladd emphasized the importance of letting the council and the public “know more about what the organization is doing.”

He plans to do this in part through monthly reports and publishing news articles “talking about what economic development is,” a process already well underway.

Ladd began his professional career as a journalist. A native of Carbondale, Ill., Ladd attended Southern Illinois University, where he double majored in political science and journalism. He was then a reporter for a Mount Vernon newspaper, which he was sad to see go out of business around six years ago. “I remember my time as a journalist fondly,” he said.

However, in the 1980s he transitioned to the nonprofit world, first with the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce as manager of governmental affairs, followed by stints in East Chicago, Marion, Indianapolis and New Albany.

In Marion, Ladd oversaw a Main Street program; in Indianapolis and New Albany, he was director of enterprise zones, tax-increment funded areas designated for economic development.

The Indianapolis zone, he explained, was a 4-squaremile area in which tax abatements were given to incentivize property improvements. Other zone ventures included public art, facade improvements and entrepreneurial programs.

Before accepting the FEDCO position, Ladd spent eight years with Metal Dynamics, a contractor for the U.S. Navy.

Before Ladd came to FEDCO, the organization developed a strategic plan, which Ladd said he will be following. That plan may be viewed at fultondevelopment.org.

“I’ve had a long nonprofit management career,” he noted, which he plans to bring to the various programs FEDCO oversees. He also looks forward to partnering with Harry Webb and the Rochester Downtown Partnership.

Ladd will also be working to push forward the Blacketor Industrial Park development, using Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative funds from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

Ladd said there are some misperceptions about how economic development works.

“It’s not magic. It’s a slow process.” He hopes to make this process more transparent through his articles and at regular meetings.

“Everybody needs to be pulling in the same direction,” he added, and the various entities of city and county government and nonprofits, should “start talking about what portion of the work each takes. … A strategic plan is not only for our organization but the community as well and should be viewed that way.” He also hopes to ensure communities outside Rochester are more involved in the process.

Ladd enjoys the variety of nonprofit work. “No two days are the same.” He also gleans a satisfaction from “helping the communities I’m in.” He still enjoys writing and looks forward to “getting FEDCO’s story out there.”

In his free time, Ladd is an avid fisherman, particularly fly fishing for trout. “There’s nothing better to get your head together than stand-

Rochester Mayoral Race —

ing in an ice-cold stream. … It’s really more about being outside than fishing.”

Denton and Odell respond to questions

Do you see the mayor’s job as a part-time or full-time position?

Why?

Trent Odell

I see the job as a full-time commitment. That term has a different meaning for me than fulltime position. I raised hogs for 37 years and was on call 24/7 365.

I’ve sacrificed family events and vacations, worked to restore backup power in the worst of weather conditions and endured many periods where I had to continue my care for them even though I was losing money hand-over-fist. I understand commitment.

I no longer raise hogs as of a year ago, and if I’m elected, 2023 will be my last grain farming. I have made arrangements for that part of the farming operation to be done for me by someone else.

I am also blessed with a great team at Odell Lumber who are able to carry the load without me. However, my presence there is another opportunity to stay in touch with the community and to hear their ideas as well as their complaints. Even now, I’m constantly spending time with individuals who want to be heard and I enjoy our conversations.

As I have stated in previous responses, I am not a micro-manager, and I entrust the responsibility of different departments to those in charge of those departments. It is a shared load of responsibility for all of our elected officials and the city employees to move our town forward. I will do anything and everything that I can to help them be successful, and as they succeed, we as a community will all benefit.

Ted Denton

There is a saying, “The results you achieve will be in direct proportion to the time invested.” Absolutely the mayor’s job is fulltime if done right.

When I took office, Rochester was showing all the signs of the previous “care taker”-style of management left by a mayor who spent a lot of time traveling and not attending to business, adding extra burden and stress to the department heads and the clerk/ treasurer. We have changed all of that.

I travel very little and only when it will benefit Rochester, not for social reasons. There are 84 scheduled meetings that are publicized at the start of each year involving our local government and another dozen-or-so related to the chamber of commerce and other local involvement. Throw in another couple of dozen involving projects, engineering meetings and meeting with department heads, and you have very full days, which turn into full months and full years.

There is no way an active, engaged, successful mayor could accomplish what we have in seven years and have another business on the side. This mayor has given full attention to the city of Rochester for over seven years to the point of not taking a vacation. I have always said that it is all right for the voters to expect more from their elected, and I vow to always give my all while working for you.

Woodlawn Hospital candy sale

Woodlawn Hospital candy sale will take place on March 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the hospital cafeteria. Wakarusa Dime Store will be on site with their candy. This event is open to the public, and all are welcome to come.

“We are so excited to welcome back Wakarusa Dime Store to our campus. The community is welcome to stop by and pick up some Easter candy including their giant jellybeans, taffy and nostalgic candy,” Marlayna Gagnon, Em- ployee Engagement Committee Member stated.

All the proceeds will go towards the Woodlawn Employee Assistance Fund. The fund helps employees who are in need. In the past, they have helped to pay outstanding utility bills, medical and care repairs. “This is just one of the many ways we are earning the right to care for our community by offering our employees and team members assistance when they need it,” Gagnon said.