DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership

What DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership does

DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership, Inc. (DCEDP) is a non-profit economic development organization founded in 2005 and headquartered at 112 S Jackson St, Auburn, Indiana, serving DeKalb County and its municipalities (Auburn, Garrett, Butler, Waterloo, Hamilton, Ashley, Corunna, St. Joe). The organization operates as a public-private partnership that convenes businesses, local governments, state agencies, and community institutions to drive business attraction, retention, and expansion; housing development through the #BUILDDEKALB initiative; broadband deployment via the DeKalb County Broadband Task Force; workforce development in coordination with Trine University, Garrett-Keyser-Butler School District, and the regional Northeast Indiana Works/WorkOne system; and infrastructure improvements including road, rail, airport, water/sewer, and utilities.

DCEDP's revenue mechanics are nonprofit-style rather than transactional: it is funded by recurring contributions from investor communities across DeKalb County and by leveraging state and federal grant programs (Community Crossings, Indiana Connectivity Program, READI, OCRA programs, FHWA funds) to support infrastructure and development projects. Its product surface consists of services — Sites & Buildings inventory, incentive navigation, community data, entrepreneurship support, and workforce/job portals — rather than technology products; no proprietary software, AI/ML systems, or APIs are disclosed. The go-to-market is direct sales/field engagement with site selectors, prospective relocating employers, and municipal governments, supplemented by a website (dekalbedp.org), earned media through KPC News, and partnerships with the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership and INvets for regional job marketing.

Name

DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership

Legal name

DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership, Inc.

Website

https://www.dekalbedp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership is a non-profit public-private partnership serving DeKalb County, Indiana, that convenes businesses, municipalities, and state agencies to drive business attraction, housing development, broadband deployment, workforce training, and infrastructure improvements funded by community contributions and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Business Support Services (5614)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Non-Operating Establishments (9995)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business attraction
• Site selection
• Workforce development
• Community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Auburn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Community Investor Contributions: DCEDP is funded through contributions from communities across DeKalb County. Each community shares in the costs of the partnership, with contributions supporting economic development activities, business attraction, and community initiatives.
2. State and Federal Grant Funding: DCEDP leverages state and federal grant programs including Community Crossings road grants, Indiana Connectivity Program for broadband, READI funding for quality of place investments, and various OCRA programs to fund infrastructure and development projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership (DCEDP) is a non-profit economic development organization that supports business attraction, retention, and expansion in DeKalb County, Indiana. It provides site selection assistance, shovel-ready sites and buildings inventory, workforce development coordination, housing strategy (#BUILDDEKALB), broadband expansion, and infrastructure planning. The organization serves as a one-stop resource connecting businesses, municipalities, and residents to state and federal funding programs and regional partnerships.

Product overview

DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership (DCEDP) is an economic development organization, not a technology product company. The organization offers a portfolio of economic development services including sites and buildings inventory, workforce development, housing initiatives (#BUILDDEKALB), broadband taskforce coordination, infrastructure services, entrepreneurship support, and access to incentives and community data. These are service offerings focused on business attraction, retention, and community development rather than technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• #BUILDDEKALB Housing
• Sites & Buildings Inventory Industrial, commercial, and mixed-use buildings and sites available for businesses looking to start, relocate, or expand in DeKalb County. Used by site selectors and companies evaluating relocation or expansion.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 5 Micropolitan ranking for 3 consecutive years (2020-2022)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Fortify LifecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Nonprofit providing emergency and transitional housing for homeless residents in DeKalb County. Received $50,000 grant from NIPSCO/NiSource Foundation through DCEDP partnership to address rural poverty through educational programs and community engagement.
• DeKalb County Airport AuthoritysecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023DeKalb County Airport (GWB) has a 5,000' runway with ILS, expanding to 7,100' with pavement starting May 2023. Provides aviation infrastructure for business access.
• Community Transportation NetworksecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Conducts NEI Transportation Assessment to evaluate transportation gaps and determine service improvements for mobility options and coordination across DeKalb County communities.
• CSX TransportationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023CSX provides rail freight service to DeKalb County. The railroad carries approximately 40 trains daily through Auburn, where a grade separation project is planned to address traffic delays.
• Norfolk Southern RailwaysecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Rail freight provider in DeKalb County along with CSX. Norfolk Southern provides direct access to Burns International Harbor on Lake Michigan.
• NIPSCO (Northern Indiana Public Service Company)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Primary electric and natural gas provider for DeKalb County. Also provides Community Crossings grants and NiSource Foundation grants for community development projects.
• Garrett-Keyser-Butler School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Local school district operating Career Development Program that provides vocational training, certifications, and pathways to manufacturing careers. Works with DCEDP on workforce development initiatives.
• Trine UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Partnership between Garrett-Keyser-Butler School District and Trine University's Trine Center for Technical Training allows high school students to earn advanced industry certifications and provides apprenticeship pathways into regional manufacturing careers.
• Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership (NIRPC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021DCEDP participates in the 11-county regional partnership for coordinated economic development, workforce planning, and business attraction. NIRPC provides the regional job portal used to connect DeKalb County employers with job seekers.
• INvetssecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021INvets is a nonprofit founded by veterans that helps former service members transition to civilian life by connecting them with Indiana employers. DCEDP links employers with veteran talent through the INvets Job Portal.
• Northeast Indiana Works / WorkOne NortheastcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021Northeast Indiana Works provides job listing portal and workforce services in collaboration with WorkOne Northeast. DCEDP directs employers and job seekers to this resource for workforce development services.
• Housing Resource Hub / Zimmerman Volk AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021DCEDP partnered with Housing Resource Hub and Zimmerman/Volk Associates to conduct a county-wide housing study and develop housing strategy. The study analyzes market potential for each community and helps identify housing development opportunities to meet workforce demand.
• United Way of DeKalb CountysecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Housing partner in the #BUILDDEKALB initiative, supporting affordable housing access and community development programs.
• Parkview DeKalb HospitalsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Healthcare provider partner supporting housing and community development initiatives in DeKalb County.
• Community Foundation of DeKalb CountysecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Foundation partner supporting community development, housing initiatives, and quality of place investments in DeKalb County.
• Community State BanksecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Financial institution partner supporting housing development and community investment programs.
• Hoosier Homes (Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021State program offering down payment assistance (up to 5% for down payment and closing costs) for low and moderate-income home buyers in approved Indiana areas including DeKalb County.
• DeKalb County Broadband Task ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2021The Task Force, formed by DeKalb County Commissioner Mike Watson, Auburn City Councilwoman Natalie DeWitt, and Anton King (DCEDP), includes representatives from economic development groups, broadband providers, elected officials, and community leaders committed to deploying broadband access to all residents and businesses.
• Indiana Broadband OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2021Indiana state agency serving as a one-stop shop for broadband-related questions, updates, and resources. DCEDP coordinates with the office for the Indiana Connectivity Program and other state broadband initiatives.
• AT&TsecondaryTechnology or Integration · 9 March 2021Broadband provider offering internet service and Affordable Connectivity Program options in DeKalb County.
• Surf InternetsecondaryTechnology or Integration · 9 March 2021Broadband provider expanding fiber optic service in DeKalb County, including Waterloo where they began fiber installation in July 2023.
• Lakeland InternetsecondaryTechnology or Integration · 9 March 2021Broadband provider partnering with Town of Hamilton on Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) project announced in July 2023.
• ComcastsecondaryTechnology or Integration · 9 March 2021Broadband provider offering RISE Program and Internet Essentials with Affordable Connectivity Program support in the region.
• AES (Auburn Essential Services)secondaryTechnology or Integration · 9 March 2021Local telecommunications provider offering telephone, cable, and internet services in DeKalb County.
• MetaLINKsecondaryTechnology or Integration · 9 March 2021Regional broadband provider offering Affinity Plans and Affordable Connectivity Program options.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership: 11-county regional economic development partnership that DCEDP is a member of. NIRPC coordinates regional marketing, workforce planning, and the job portal that connects DeKalb County employers with talent, making it the closest organizational peer.
• Hamilton County Economic Development Corporation: Indiana county-level economic development corporation with a similar public-private partnership model, business attraction focus, and shovel-ready sites approach. Comparable mission and revenue mix.
• Tippecanoe County Economic Development: Greater Lafayette area economic development organization serving a similar micropolitan profile in Indiana. Comparable role in business attraction, workforce, and community development for a mid-sized Indiana county.
• Hendricks County Economic Development Partnership: Indiana county-level EDC with a hybrid public-private structure similar to DCEDP. Compares on mission, funding model, and operational scope (sites/buildings, workforce, broadband).

Regional players

• Greater Fort Wayne Inc. Economic development organization for Allen County and Fort Wayne, the adjacent regional hub. Comparable scope (business attraction, workforce, advocacy) but operates in a larger metro/urban market adjacent to DeKalb County.
• Boone County Economic Development Corporation: County-level EDC in central Indiana with a comparable service portfolio (sites, workforce, business retention). Operating in a different sub-market but structurally similar to DCEDP.
• Economic Development Corporation of Johnson County: Indiana county-level EDC with similar public-private structure and mandate around business attraction and workforce development. Comparable scale and operational model.
• Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce / Economic Development: Regional economic development and chamber organization in northern Indiana with manufacturing-intensive economy similar to DeKalb County's. Comparable industry mix and workforce focus.

Broad incumbents

• Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC): State-level economic development agency that administers READI, Community Crossings, and other incentive programs DCEDP leverages. Provides broader policy and funding context for the same corporate prospects.
• Indy Chamber: Regional chamber and economic development organization for the Indianapolis metro. Wider geographic scope and broader portfolio but comparable business attraction, talent, and advocacy functions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DeKalbEDP

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership