What Does Rush County ECDC Actually Do? 7 Ways We Help
When people think about Rush County economic and community development, they may picture a new factory, a ribbon cutting, or a company announcing new jobs.
Those things are certainly part of economic development—but they are only part of the story.
At the Rush County Economic & Community Development Corporation (ECDC), our work is ultimately about helping create the conditions for Rush County to grow and thrive. That means supporting existing employers, attracting new investment, developing our workforce, helping entrepreneurs, connecting young people with local careers, supporting community development, and bringing the right people and resources together to solve problems.
Here are seven ways Rush County ECDC works for businesses, residents, and the future of our community.
1. We Help Existing Rush County Businesses Grow
Some of the most important economic development happens inside businesses that are already here.
ECDC works to build relationships with local employers and better understand what they need to remain competitive and continue investing in Rush County.
That can mean helping an employer identify workforce resources, connecting them with training providers, discussing expansion needs, helping navigate available incentives, making introductions to state or regional partners, or simply helping find the right person to answer a question.
Existing businesses create jobs, support local families, purchase goods and services, contribute to the local tax base, and invest in our community.
Helping them succeed is one of our most important jobs.
2. We Work to Bring New Investment and Jobs to Rush County
When a company is considering Rush County for a new facility or expansion, ECDC helps make the process easier.
Businesses looking for a location may need information about available land and buildings, infrastructure, utilities, workforce, incentives, permitting, transportation, community resources and dozens of other factors before making an investment decision.
ECDC serves as a local point of contact and works with the City of Rushville, Rush County, utility partners, regional organizations and the State of Indiana to help businesses evaluate opportunities in our community.
One of Rush County’s important development assets is the Commerce Park @ Rushville, located near State Road 3 with infrastructure available to support future development.
Every successful project begins with making sure businesses know that Rush County is an option—and giving them the information they need to seriously consider investing here.
3. We Connect Employers With Workers—and Workers With Opportunities
Economic development and workforce development go hand in hand.
A company cannot grow without people, and residents need access to good employment, training and career opportunities.
Through the Rush to Work Job Center and WorkOne services in Rushville, ECDC works with workforce partners, employers, educational organizations and community organizations to help connect those two sides.
Our workforce efforts can include helping residents access job-search assistance, connecting employers with workforce resources, promoting local job openings, coordinating hiring and recruitment activities, connecting individuals with training opportunities, and responding to workforce needs identified by local businesses.
The goal isn’t simply to fill today’s openings.
It’s to help Rush County build a workforce that can support the jobs and industries of tomorrow.
4. We Help Build Rush County’s Future Talent Pipeline
Workforce development doesn’t begin when someone fills out a job application.
It begins much earlier.
That’s why ECDC works with schools, employers and community partners to help students and educators better understand the careers available right here in Rush County.
Programs such as Manufacturing Day give students an opportunity to visit local employers and see modern workplaces firsthand.
Through Teacher Impact Tours, educators visit local businesses and healthcare employers to learn about occupations, workplace expectations, skills and career pathways. Teachers can then take that knowledge back into their classrooms and have better-informed conversations with students about their futures.
These programs help young people understand something important:
A successful career doesn’t necessarily require leaving Rush County.
There are opportunities to build a future right here at home.
5. We Support Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses
Not every new Rush County job will come from a large employer.
Sometimes economic growth begins with one person who has an idea.
ECDC helps connect entrepreneurs and small-business owners with information, organizations and resources that can help them move forward.
One example is the Regional Entrepreneurial Pipeline (REaP), a regional initiative serving Rush, Fayette and Henry Counties. REaP is designed to help new and early-stage entrepreneurs better understand topics such as business planning, banking, customers, pricing, marketing, business formation, recordkeeping and available small-business resources.
Whether someone is considering starting a business, turning a side hustle into something more formal, or trying to grow an existing operation, we want entrepreneurs to know they don’t have to figure everything out by themselves.
Strong small businesses create jobs, fill community needs, occupy storefronts, generate investment and help make Rush County a more vibrant place to live.
6. We Help Move Community Development Projects Forward
Businesses don’t make location decisions based solely on a building or tax rate.
People—and the companies that employ them—also care about housing, broadband, infrastructure, schools, amenities, recreation and overall quality of place.
That’s one reason community development is part of economic development.
ECDC participates in partnerships and initiatives designed to strengthen Rush County as a place where people want to live, work, invest and build a future.
Our role isn’t always to lead every project. Sometimes it is bringing partners together. Sometimes it is helping identify resources or funding opportunities. Sometimes it is providing information, helping coordinate a project or representing Rush County in regional and statewide conversations.
Economic development is a team effort, and many of the projects that shape a community require collaboration among local government, businesses, schools, nonprofits, utilities, residents and regional partners.
7. We Connect People, Resources and Opportunities
This may be the least visible part of economic development, but it happens every day.
A business has a workforce problem.
An entrepreneur needs to know where to begin.
A resident needs help finding employment.
A company is considering an expansion.
A school wants to connect students with employers.
A community organization learns about a grant opportunity.
A developer needs local information.
Often, ECDC’s job is to know who needs to be at the table and help make that connection.
We work with businesses, local government, educational institutions, workforce organizations, economic development partners, state agencies, utilities and community organizations because no single organization can build a strong local economy alone.
Economic Development Is About People
Buildings, infrastructure, investments and job announcements matter.
But ultimately, economic development is about people.
It’s about helping a local company remain successful.
It’s about helping someone find a career.
It’s about showing a student opportunities they didn’t know existed.
It’s about helping an entrepreneur turn an idea into a business.
It’s about preparing a site for the employer who may arrive five years from now.
And it’s about continually working to make Rush County a stronger place to live, work, invest and grow.
How Can ECDC Help You?
If you are:
- A Rush County business experiencing a challenge or considering an expansion
- A company interested in locating in Rush County
- An entrepreneur exploring a business idea
- An employer looking for workforce assistance
- A resident looking for employment or training resources
- An organization interested in partnering on a community initiative
Reach out to Rush County ECDC.
We may be able to help directly—or connect you with the person or organization that can.
Rush County Economic & Community Development Corporation
330 N. Main Street
Rushville, Indiana 46173
Learn more at www.rushecdc.org.