Greene County Development Corporation (GCDC) recently held a series of public meetings about a new initiative.

A new director for the Multicultural Family Resource Center will be hired and work within the Greene County School District, as well as Greene County. Greene County Schools Superintendent Brett Abbotts said the district is committing $15,000 toward the director’s salary, which is estimated to be about $60,000, with an additional $2,000 to purchase their own private insurance. Abbotts mentioned that the director would have an office space at one of the school buildings, given a Google Chromebook, a phone line, and other amenities to do their job. He laid out how the director will operate within the school district.

“Their primary focus with us is going to center around communication and relationships. Communication from a stance of translating and interpreting. Another thing, they’re really going to serve more of a liaison between our school district and our families to be able to be a solid connection for them, somebody that they can trust. That’s where the relationships will be super key for us.”   

It was also mentioned that the director would work 25-percent with the school district and 75-percent with the entire county to help recruit and transition new employees to work and live in Greene County, as well as finding resources and support with different organizations if individuals and families need it. 

This project also received a US Department of Agriculture Rural Development Grant to jumpstart the first year of funding. Scranton Manufacturing Director of Operations Jim Ober is also a member of GCDC and he announced several pledge levels for businesses and the community to contribute financially.

“We are confident that with just having one year of this program without a plan to move on is not going to give the results we need. We’re not going to see it in three or four months, ‘Oh look at what this did for us and everything’s better and we’re done with it.’ This is a long term commitment. That’s where we as GCDC came up with a plan of being a four year program. Not saying it’s done at four years, but at least to have the financing in place so we know we can continue through that time.”     

Ober added that letters to businesses in the county will be sent out asking for pledges, with the hope of having some funding secured by the end of October. He said GCDC will then go to the city of Jefferson and the Greene County Board of Supervisors for additional support, if needed, but he is hoping most of the commitment will be fulfilled by the employers and community of Greene County. See the list below for the pledge levels. Contact GCDC at 515-386-8255 or Chuck Offenburger at 515-370-2659 for more information or to make a pledge.

Three-Year Pledge Levels

Supporter $100-$499

Promoter $500-$999

Visionary $1,000-$2,499

Community Builder $2,500+