When Jim Plump became director of Jackson County Industrial Development Corp. in 1984, the idea of spurring economic development at the local level was just beginning in Indiana.
There were only a handful of such organizations in Hoosier communities back then.
For a community to thrive and succeed now, economic development isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity, and many people turn to Plump and JCIDC to see how it’s done.
Under Plump’s leadership, JCIDC is recognized as one of the top economic development organizations, not just in Indiana but in the Midwest, for its work in attraction and retention of industries and the creation of innovative programs to assist the business community.
Sunday marks his 34th year as the only director JCIDC has had.
That’s why Plump recently was chosen as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement in Economic Development award by the Indiana Economic Development Association. He received the honor during the association’s 50th anniversary celebration June 22 in Indianapolis.
“It was a very nice honor … very humbling,” he said. “Over the years, I have been blessed to work for outstanding boards of directors and with great elected officials, plus market a terrific area of the State of Indiana — Jackson County. That’s a great combination for success.”
He said if it weren’t for people who have supported economic development in Jackson County such as Mike Tormoehlen, Bob Zickler, Gerald Armstrong, Gary Meyer, Kevin Gabbard, Dave Lucas, Bill Bailey, John Burkart, Jim Bullard and Craig Luedeman, he wouldn’t have experienced the success he has.
At the time JCIDC formed, the area had high unemployment, no future opportunities for local graduates and a tax base that was going in the wrong direction, Plump said.
JCIDC and Plump have been vital in the attraction of more than 30 industries to Jackson County, such as Aisin USA Mfg., Seymour Tubing and O&k America. Aisin later expanded its footprint in Jackson County by opening Aisin Drivetrain and Aisin Chemical in Crothersville.
The local economic organization also helped Seymour land the Walmart Distribution Center and Pet Supplies Plus Distribution and it supported Cummins’ decision to grow and make Seymour the site of its high horsepower division.
All of these developments have led to the creation of more than 5,000 jobs, an increased tax base and community improvements in Seymour and Jackson County.
JCIDC has grown too with Plump at the helm and now oversees workforce development and small business loans.
There’s nowhere Plump won’t go to market and tout the benefits of Jackson County to businesses. He travels the state, country and even the world, taking many trips to Japan and Europe.
“We have a great product to sell and that’s Jackson County,” he said. “It goes back to the same message we started with 34 years ago. It’s location. It’s the transportation system and it’s the great people and the work ethic we have here.”
Seymour native Dan Brackemyre, a founding member of the Indiana Area Development Council, which later became the Indiana Economic Development Association, presented the award to Plump.
“That made the award even more special,” Plump said.
The award was one of three honors presented during the event at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. The Economic Development Professional of the Next Half-Century award went to Wendy Dant Chesser, president and chief executive officer of One Southern Indiana in New Albany and the Big Impact in Economic Development award was presented to former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, president of Purdue University.
Although he too was nominated for the Big Impact in Economic Development award, Plump said he wasn’t too disappointed that he lost to Daniels.
Plump served as the IEDA’s president in 1999 and helped create its Foundation for educational purposes.
Economic development is not the only area where Plump invests his time, knowledge and passion. He is an active and vital part of the community serving on the Schneck Medical Center Foundation board, Southern Indiana Center for the Arts and is on the advisory board for Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus. He’s a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Seymour and part of the Board of Directors of the Japan America Society of Indiana.
In the past, he has served as president of the Boys & Girls Club in Seymour. Last year, he received the Dr. Joseph Black Lifetime Achievement Award for his involvement with the club. He’s also been president of Leadership Jackson County and has been a member of the Community Foundation of Jackson County Board of Directors and has been appointed to the Seymour Board of Public Works and Safety and Seymour Park and Recreation Board.
Other accomplishments he has include the Seymour Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year award in 2001 and the Sagamore of the Wabash, which is the state’s highest civilian honor in 2004.
Although awards are nice to receive and Plump appreciates the gesture, he said they are not the reason he does his job or why he gets involved in so much.
“If that’s the reason, it’s the wrong reason and you aren’t going to last long in the profession,” he said.
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Jim Plump
Job: Executive director of Jackson County Industrial Development Corp.
Home: Seymour, formerly of Salem
Family: Wife, Jana; sons, Eric and Cory; grandsons, Asher and Owen
Education: Graduate of Salem High School, the University of Evansville with a degree in journalism and the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma
Other Honors: Citizen of the Year by Seymour Chamber of Commerce in 2001, Sagamore of the Wabash in 2003, Salem High School Hall of Fame in 2016, Dr. Joseph Black Lifetime Achievement Award by Seymour Boys & Girls Club in 2017 and the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indiana Economic Development Association in 2018.
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