CASSOPOLIS — Cass County’s lack of an economic development point person cost it a potential employer with 650 employees, according to the Economic Development Corp. chairwoman.
“We learned two weeks ago there was an opportunity in Cass County with a company looking to locate and bring 650 jobs. They were looking for someone to complete an RFP (request for proposals) and we had no one who had the time, knowledge or updated information within the county to complete that labor-intensive document, so we lost out on that opportunity. We need to change the environment, so calls come in here. We need a point person to answer those calls and gather that information.”
Eileen Toney said the EDC has a fund balance sufficient to hire an employee for three years, then partner with the board of commissioners to continue the position.
Economic development “does not mean smokestacks,” she said. “We’re talking agriculture, like the fair that brings people in; Swiss Valley; lodging. Lawless Park is Cass County’s best-kept secret. We have other things here we can utilize to develop tourism. Cass County has a hospital and a community college. We need to do a better job of marketing and putting Cass County on the map.”
Toney of Howard Township, addressed the board of commissioners Thursday about her concern.
The Dowagiac graduate is a lifelong county resident who formerly resided in Pokagon Township. She became Southwestern Michigan College development director in April. Before that she was vice president of commercial lending at Chemical Bank in Niles, where she had been since 1994.
Toney was appointed to the board in August 2010 and became chair last December.
As a mother, “I want to make sure there are opportunities for my children. My daughter graduated and had to leave Cass County to find employment in Berrien County.”
Toney said the county’s median age is 43.4. There are 20,000 households within the Cass population of 52,000.
“Cass County grew 2.3 percent in the census,” but primarily along its southern border with Indiana thanks to the Edwardsburg school district.
“They come and leave. They’re not committed to Cass County like I am,” she said. “In 2009, there were 771 businesses that employed 7,000. In 2006, we had 842 establishments and 9,000 people who were paid. It doesn’t look pretty. We’re in a changing environment where businesses have to be competitive and we have to be competitive as a county. When someone calls, they want to speak to a live person.”