Page 67 - MACC Guide 2019/2020

Rendering of Fairfield Inn & Suites by RATIO

"CLEAN, SAFE, AND BEAUTIFUL," THOSE ARE THE WORDS MAYOR BOB COURTNEY OF
MADISON, USES EVERY DAY TO ENSURE THE CITY IS DOING ALL IT CAN TO ACHIEVE A
GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE AND A GREAT QUALITY OF PLACE.

To say 2020 has been a challenging year for Economic Our historic city has attracted many new businesses
Development in Madison, might be a bit of an over the past year, bringing everything from fine men’s
understatement. However, we have continued to meet and women’s clothing boutiques to new restaurants
the challenges placed on us by the COVID-19 pandemic. and an auto-repair shop, to a huge toy store designed to
We have, in fact, continued to succeed despite those delight kids from 3-10 years of age. Mad Paddle Brewery
challenges. In August of 2020, the City of Madison recently added an in house pizza restaurant called, Pizza
was awarded a $250,000 grant from the Indiana Office Uncommon.
of Community and Rural Affairs through its COVID-19
Response Program. This money was added to a program New industries will be able to locate on JA Berry Lane,
(Mobilize Madison) designed by the City to assist on the hilltop, where Nelson Family Enterprises LLC, of
businesses and residents through the pandemic. Mobilize Sioux City, Nebraska, will build a $2.5 million wholesale
Madison’s mission is to provide funding for small food distribution plant on 6.3 acres adding 12 - 15
businesses struggling to survive the economic impact of positions to the jobs market, with the potential for growth
COVID-19. The grant funds are intended to assist with and improvements in the infrastructure.
working capital, rent, and other items to keep employees
on payroll and allow them continue operations through Renovation of the Eagle Cotton Mill on East Vaughn
the COVID-19 crisis. Drive, built in 1884, continues. The four story, former
cotton manufacturing mill that overlooks the Ohio
One aspect of the program helped unemployed workers River is a $21 million project that will create an 85-room
that were effected by the pandemic receive jobs in the boutique hotel operated by Fairfield Inn (illustration of
city that otherwise would have been completed over the exterior pictured above). The hotel property plans to
the summer. Workers helped with trash removal, parks house a 300+ person conference center, restaurant, and is
maintenance, street department projects, and other key expected to be completed in 2021.
initiatives that allowed them to stay employed and earn
a wage. In addition, the city had several employers On the other side of downtown, another significant
step up and convert their manufacturing facilities from project is nearly complete. Formerly known as Tower
traditional product lines to PPE (Personal Protective Tack Factory, Riverside Tower Apartments will be
Equipment) supplies such as face shields and protective a 50 unit senior targeted apartment complex. The
barriers. This adaptation by the manufacturers allowed transformation of this previously vacant riverfront
them to not have any long and significant layoffs. factory has even revitalized a significant portion of
the surrounding neighborhood. The Riverside Tower

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