ECI

The East Central Indiana Regional Planning District (ECI) is a state-designated regional planning district that advances economic growth in Delaware, Grant, and Blackford counties. Merchant McIntyre Associates (MM) serves as ECI’s full-service Washington government relations agency. In this role, MM handles all aspects of ECI’s federal representation—pursuing significant competitive and discretionary grants, strengthening relationships with the Indiana Congressional delegation, contacting federal agencies when ECI’s grant applications are under consideration, advancing ECI’s policy and regulatory interests, and leading the annual Washington Fly-In.

ECIDuring the past several years, MM has secured millions of dollars to support ECI’s economic development mission.  Our funding wins and pending awards include:

  • $1.3 million to improve a major intersection at the entrance of an industrial park, pending. (Source: Economic Development Administration)
  • $320,000 help provide an economic development response to COVID-19, including helping local businesses find financing, retain employees, and recover from the pandemic. (Source: Economic Development Administration)
  • $100,000 to support training and technical assistance services to small businesses and entrepreneurs in rural East Central Indiana, pending. (Source: Department of Agriculture)
  • $88,000 to support Innovation Connector, a business incubator that connects Indiana entrepreneurs with development resources and services. (Source: Economic Development Administration)
  • $80,000 to support ECI personnel providing technical assistance to small businesses. (Source: Department of Agriculture)
  • $75,000 for an I-69 Corridor Economic Impact Analysis with the aim of developing an action plan for the widening, modernization, and safety improvements along the I-69 corridor. This now positions ECI for a RAISE grant in the $10 million-$25 million range when the project is shovel-ready.(Source: Economic Development Administration)
  • $68,000 for a workforce development and technical assistance program. (Source: Department of Agriculture)