Council Wrestles with Direction for OEDC
Olney City Council members appear to be wrestling with a fundamental question about the Olney Economic Development Corporation: Should it concentrate on smaller, visible projects that improve life for residents today, or invest in long-term projects designed to expand Olney’s tax base and prepare for potentially historic growth in Young County?
That conflict emerged during nearly two hours of questioning about the OEDC’s budget at the Sept. 28 Council meeting.
City Administrator Andy Wolfe questioned the OEDC’s emphasis on recruiting and preparing for additional industry, noting that Olney already has a “fantastic base of industrial” businesses, including Air Tractor, Tower Extrusions, CEMCO and PSI.
Mr. Wolfe said he would like to see more Type B economic-development dollars spent on quality-of-life projects such as parks and shade canopies.
“I would love to see quality of life stuff,” Mr. Wolfe said. “There’s lots of needs for that, for the citizens that are already here.”
But that discussion came as Young County negotiates with Stream Data Centers over a massive development that county officials say could fundamentally change the area’s economy.
Young County Commissioner Alan Craig warned Council members at the same meeting that Olney needs to prepare.
“You’re going to get run over,” Mr. Craig said.
That warning highlights the choice facing the Council.
A shade canopy or park improvement provides residents with a visible benefit now. Industrial property, housing, utilities and development-ready sites may produce little immediate payoff but could determine whether Olney captures businesses, workers and taxable development generated by the data center — or watches them go elsewhere.
OEDC Executive Director Tom Parker and OEDC board members have been discussing how to lure a modular homebuilder to Olney to build an estimated $20 million in housing associated with data-center construction. The OEDC budget also included engineering studies to convert the Olney Savings Building to condominiums, and to explore putting apartments over some Main Street buildings. The plan would bring more residents and their spending to town and expand the city’s property tax base.
“If it’s not here, we don’t get the tax benefit of it,” he told the Council.
The OEDC has spent months pursuing the longer-term strategy. Over the summer, Mr. Parker has repeatedly briefed the Council on housing, downtown improvements, Lake Cooper development, workforce programs, and plans for an industrial park.
The OEDC also held a daylong summit with state and federal officials to explore financing and programs that could help Olney recruit businesses and build infrastructure.
Its proposed budget includes a $250,000 investment from reserves toward developing an industrial park. Olney currently has few development- ready sites available when companies come looking.
One prospect already considering Olney is Fab-ulous Homes, a modu-lar home manufacturer that could employ as many as 85 workers.
The Council ultimately approved the OEDC budget, but the discussion exposed a larger issue than individual line items.
The OEDC cannot simultaneously be criticized for failing to produce enough immediately visible improvements and be expected to devote its resources to preparing Olney for economic opportunities that may take years to develop.
Both strategies have value. Quality- of-life improvements can help Olney retain residents and make the community more attractive. Long-term development can expand the tax base needed to pay for streets, infrastructure and services.
The Council’s job now is to decide which mission it wants the OEDC to prioritize.
The data center adds urgency to that decision. If thousands of workers, contractors and associated businesses arrive in Young County and Olney is not ready with housing, commercial space and industrial sites, that development can occur elsewhere, and the tax base can go with it.