Grant County Economic GROWTH Council

April 15: Tim Eckerle and Mikayla Marazzi | Grant County Economic Growth Council | COVID-19 MINISERIES
April 15: Tim Eckerle and Mikayla Marazzi | Grant County Economic Growth Council | COVID-19 MINISERIES 150 150 America's Jobs Team

Tim Eckerle and Mikayla Marazzi team up with Carla Sones on today’s podcast to talk about the initiatives they’re implementing in Grant County, Indiana to help cushion the effects of COVID-19 on the business community. Tim and Mikayla share insight on the funding programs put in place, as well as how much this crisis is going to change the habits of people in economic development and business as a whole.

Tim Eckerle has been executive director of the Grant County Economic Growth Council since 1984. As the council’s only director, he developed the organization’s mission and guided its development. His work was instrumental in bringing almost two dozen employers, including automotive parts manufacturers, makers of plastic lids and an ethanol plant. Also, his tenure has seen more than $2 billion in modernization and expansion in existing businesses.

Mikayla Marazzi joined the Grant County Economic Growth Council in August 2017. She is a graduate of the International Economic Development Council’s Basic Economic Development Course, and a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University with B.A. in English and has experience in a variety of international development projects: such as serving with Project Elea at Eleonas Refugee Camp in Athens, Greece or with Hogar Bethel, an orphanage in La Cumbre, Argentina. Mikayla hopes to bring her intercultural experience into her work with Grant County, as she aspires to cultivate a community of warmth, inclusion, and diversity.

COVID-19 RESPONSE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Every weekday America’s Jobs Team will be airing a new episode focusing on the response to the coronavirus pandemic from the perspective of economic developers and site consultants alike. We have gathered that our listening audience has a deep desire to hear from other economic development professionals about how they are handling this crisis. Due to the frequency of podcast releases, we will not be sending a daily email with the new episodes. To get each episode as it is released, please search “America’s Jobs Team” on your preferred podcast app and subscribe.

Episode 057: Tim Eckerle | Grant County Economic GROWTH Council
Episode 057: Tim Eckerle | Grant County Economic GROWTH Council 150 150 America's Jobs Team

On This Week’s Podcast:

Tim Eckerle, executive director at Grant County Economic GROWTH Council joins Carla to talk leadership, and on 60 Seconds with a Site Consultant Brad Migdal (senior managing director of business incentives practice, Cushman & Wakefield) shares insight about how the profession has been disrupted.

Tim and Carla talk about Tim’s journey into economic development. Tim dives into why he’s all about figuring out solutions rather than dwelling on problems, and what the word “renew” means to him this new decade.

Since 1984, Tim has been the executive director of the Grant County Economic Growth Council, Marion, Indiana.  As the Growth Council’s initial director, Tim has been responsible for developing the organization’s mission and overseeing its development.  During his tenure, the Growth Council has participated in attracting 20 diverse new manufacturers such as automotive parts, plastic lids manufacturers, and an ethanol plant, as well as participated in over 2 billion dollars’ worth of modernization and expansion projects. Under his leadership, the Growth Council launched several entrepreneurial development projects including the I-69 Collegiate Innovation Challenge, Taylor Business Plan Competition, the high school base Young Entrepreneurs Program and the Spirit of Entrepreneurship award.

America’s Jobs Team is sponsored by Research on Investment / Gazelle.ai