Brazil, In. – The future relationship of the Clay County Redevelopment Commission and Thrive West Central was brought into question at the commission’s meeting Wednesday. 

Thrive West Central, formerly known as West Central Economic Development Incorporated, has been a partner with Clay County for several years. The organization works with several counties in West Central Indiana. 

It has primarily acted through Jim Coffenberry, senior economic adviser, with Thrive. Coffenberry has worked with Clay County and the City of Brazil to attract new projects. He is currently working on the expansion of sewer service to a large area south of Brazil including Posey Township and Jackson Township. Recent construction and business expansion in the area on the south side of Interstate 70 have led to interest in the sewer expansion. 

Another recent development was Indiana Power Coatings on Tower Road, east of Brazil. 

The city and county are also expanding water service and building new roads for the industrial park where Great Dane and other companies are located. 

Coiffenberry has set April 28 as his retirement date from the economic development company. 

In December the contract with Thrive West Central expired and a new contract has not been signed two months later. 

On Wednesday, the possibility of the county contracting directly with Coffenberry instead of Thrive West Central was discussed. 

By the end of the meeting, a verbal agreement to continue with Thrive West Central through April 28, Coffenberry’s retirement date, was made.

Thrive West Central Executive Director Ryan Keller appeared to ask the commission members to sign a new contract for 2022 to run through December. Clay County pays Thrive West Central $75 per hour for services performed. That amount is expected to increase with a new contract. 

Coffenberry left the meeting after making a presentation about county projects and was not present during the discussion. 

In other business: 

• Clay County will pay $42,950 for an $85,900 preliminary engineering study for the proposed sewer project in Posey and Jackson townships. 
• Amy Burke Adams took the oath of office to be on the Redevelopment Commission as a representative of the Clay Community Schools Board of Trustees. She will be a non-voting member.