Marshall County Economic Development reports job growth, 7 active attraction projects

Marshall County's economy continues to show strong momentum, according to a quarterly update delivered Monday by Greg Hildebrand, CEO of the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC), during the County Commissioner meeting.

Hildebrand reported that Marshall County's unemployment rate for May 2026 was at 3%, below both the state and national averages. Over the past five years, the county has seen nearly a 30% increase in the number of jobs, with average annual wages rising by a similar margin — several percentage points above inflation. He said, “The county's labor force continues to grow month over month, with employed residents increasing at an even faster rate than overall population growth.”

On the business development front, Hildebrand said MCEDC is currently working on seven attraction projects — companies not yet located in Marshall County that are actively considering a move here. Among them is a natural gas peaker plant eyeing property on U.S. 6 west of Bremen. Additionally, MCEDC is engaged with 13 active expansion projects involving businesses already in the county that are looking to grow and hire, and five site development projects aimed at preparing industrial sites — with zoning and utilities identified as the primary hurdles.

Workforce development remains a top priority. Hildebrand noted that after three years of Business Retention and Expansion surveys, the number one obstacle businesses identify is the ability to hire a skilled workforce. In response, MCEDC has been collaborating with Marshall County Adult Education and the Marshall County Career Innovation Center to develop targeted job skills training. A group of industry leaders is currently working together to identify specific training needs.

MCEDC has also applied for three operational grants from its investors and received a fourth — a site development grant from Wabash Valley Power — to help bring utilities to a potential development area.

Community engagement is also a major component of MCEDC's work. The organization has now held 48 Community Development for the Future meetings, bringing together decision-makers from across the county to discuss projects and developments in their communities. Additionally, MCEDC is partnering with ONE Marshall County on an infrastructure assessment and inventory to evaluate current conditions, identify improvement needs, and determine available capacities in communities throughout the county.

Hildebrand also addressed questions surrounding funding for the Heartland Arts Center in Plymouth, clarifying that no money from MCEDC investors, supporting communities, or the county's own investment is being used for the project. He explained that the funds trace back to a $400,000 Regional Development Authority (RDA) award originally made in 2018 to build a manufacturing center in Argos, which was sold to Sequel Wire. After repayment, the RDA reallocated the $400,000 to a Plymouth manufacturing center purchased by Divert, which was again repaid and reallocated to MCEDC. Those funds will now be used to establish an eHub — a co-working space for entrepreneurs — inside the Heartland Arts Center.