Holmes County board names new chair, advances $27M ProVia project

At Monday's Holmes County Commissioners meeting, the board reorganized leadership and moved forward on a major economic development proposal that could reshape parts of Walnut Creek. Commissioner Dave Hall was named chairman of the board, taking the gavel from outgoing chair Joe Miller, and Eric Strouse was named acting vice president. The board also adopted preliminary administrative resolutions and set its public meeting calendar for 2026.

The commissioners approved a proposed Enterprise Zone Agreement with ProVia, which plans a $27 million, three-story facility adjacent to its Walnut Creek headquarters. The vote advances the company's expansion plans within county boundaries and positions the project to proceed into subsequent stages of permitting and implementation. Enterprise Zone Agreements generally tie local incentives to private investment and job commitments, making the details of final implementation important for tax revenues and workforce planning.

County officials adopted a preliminary administrative budget measure that establishes a Human Resource Fund. Officials described the fund as part of the county's fiscal planning for staffing and personnel administration in the coming year. The board also set a regular meeting cadence intended to improve public access: weekly Monday public meetings at the old jail at 10 a.m., with first and third Thursday sessions added as needed.

The board's calendar and administrative decisions are immediate, tangible items for residents who follow county governance. Weekly Monday meetings at a familiar downtown location create regular opportunities for public comment and oversight. The creation of a Human Resource Fund signals attention to county personnel costs and may shape hiring, benefits, or contract management decisions later in the budget cycle.

Commissioner Strouse followed up the board meeting by addressing the Wayne-Holmes Realtor Association on Jan. 16, outlining the county's economic outlook for 2026. That outreach to realtors underscores how county planning and development decisions intersect with the housing market, property tax base, and local sales and service sectors.

For Holmes County residents, the most consequential element is the ProVia project. A $27 million expansion next to an established employer could bring construction work and longer-term operational jobs, while also affecting property and service demands near Walnut Creek. The proposed Enterprise Zone Agreement means the county will need to monitor any incentive conditions and ensure that promised investments and employment outcomes are delivered.

Next steps include implementation details for the ProVia agreement, follow-up budget actions tied to the Human Resource Fund, and the regular Monday meetings where commissioners will hear public input. Residents who want to track these developments have a predictable schedule to attend or follow county business and hold elected officials accountable for the terms and outcomes of economic deals.