Evaluating the Alliance

By Kevin Leininger of The News-Sentinel

The numbers seem impressive: 203 projects, $792 million in investment, 16,606 jobs retained and another 7,415 created for a total payroll of $964 million.

But those numbers have not translated into higher incomes for Allen County residents when compared to state and national averages. Just the opposite, in fact.

So the question naturally arises: Eight years after the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance was created, how has the organization charged with keeping and attracting jobs performed its own?

“We were designed to be an umbrella agency, and it has worked as designed,” said President Rob Young, referring to the consolidation of previously redundant and sometimes competitive economic development efforts.

Created in October 2000 with $200,000 each from Fort Wayne, Allen County and the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, the Alliance’s primary role is to serve as the community’s chief contact with existing and prospective employers, providing information as needed. Young and other Alliance officials were fulfilling that role one recent cold morning, inspecting a vacant warehouse and shipping facility on Nelson Road in New Haven after a company inquired about the availability of similar facilities.

The Alliance can’t directly offer incentives, however. That’s left to city, county and state governments, with the Alliance serving as a bridge between the private and public sectors. Local officials apparently believe the relationship is working, with the Allen County Commissioners having renewed that support again this year, and City Council is expected to do the same this month.

The Chamber continues to support the Alliance as well. Since its inception, the Alliance’s budget has increased from $600,000 to $1.4 million, thanks to another $75,000 from the city and support from the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority, DeKalb County, foundations and other sources. City and county incentive specialists spend time at the Alliance’s downtown office to improve the lines of communication.

“We needed to be more aggressive and less fragmented and make sure we have a common goal. Competition (for jobs) has increased in the last eight years, so we need the Alliance all the more,” Chamber President Kristine Foate said. More here.