Noble County EDC is Now ‘Be Noble Inc.’
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
The Noble County Economic Development Corp. in Albion is introducing a new brand and changes to its organizational structure. The Noble County EDC is now doing business as Be Noble Inc. as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Last week, Inside INdiana Business reported on the Daviess County Economic Development Corp.’s marketing efforts and unified branding, We Are Daviess County.
Executive Director Gary Gatman says the name change and transition from a 501(c)6 to a 501(c)3 organization are opportunities “to expand funding streams and better represent multiple strategies and projects.”
“I came to realize, early in my tenure, that this organization had become an outlier in the region for doing economic development as a 501(c)6 organization,” Gatman said. “That nonprofit structure is one typically used by membership organizations, like chambers of commerce. The EDC was not a membership organization, nor could we qualify for most grant opportunities under that structure. It made sense to make the structural change and embrace our new brand at the same time.”
As a nonprofit, the organization says it can offer opportunities to individuals and businesses to invest in local economic development efforts by making tax-deductible contributions. Be Noble can now apply for grants it was formerly ineligible to apply for.
“As a 501(c)3, we hope to bring more stakeholders to partner with us as we focus on strategic priorities that reach beyond the more traditional work the EDC did in the past,” Gatman said. “We are currently working on a broad scope of projects and initiatives ranging from childcare to infrastructure to downtown development and housing. Our staff has seats at tables all across the county, which makes Be Noble a great resource for information. This exposure enables us to help reduce redundancy and recognize and drive collaborations that may not otherwise occur.”
Gatman says he hopes to see a shift to more private funding going forward.