Authorization granted for negotiation of final agreements with Jeffersonville, Charlestown, Utica, Clark County and Greater Clark County Schools
Jeffersonville, IN (March 12, 2026) – Today at its regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting, the River Ridge Development Authority (RRDA) approved five resolutions authorizing 2026 Service Agreements with community partners for the provision of public utilities, safety, and educational expenditures supporting the River Ridge Commerce Center. Authorization to commence negotiations for agreements with local governments include the City of Jeffersonville, the City of Charlestown, the Town of Utica and Clark County. Additionally, the RRDA will initiate an educational capital improvement agreement with Greater Clark County Schools.
“River Ridge and the businesses within the Commerce Center are grateful for our partnerships with all our public entities,” said Marc Hildenbrand, RRDA Executive Director. “We appreciate the utility, public safety, and educational services provided by these partners that allow our businesses to grow, thereby benefiting the entire Southern Indiana region.”
In 2025, the River Ridge Commerce Center was home to nearly 80 companies, employing a total of 13,054 employees.
“Our shared commitment to service and partnership exemplifies how a strong, unified region addresses community needs and drives economic prosperity for the benefit of all residents,” Hildenbrand added.
Once agreements are finalized, River Ridge will provide one-time payments designated for the following services:
- Since annexing the portion of River Ridge within the City limits in 2000, the City of Jeffersonville has provided property owners within the River Ridge Commerce Center with municipal services including public safety and wastewater treatment. River Ridge plans to continue its support of Jeffersonville services in the amount of $3,500,000 for 2026. Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore stated, “We appreciate River Ridge’s meaningful investment in our community’s safety and essential infrastructure. It strengthens our ability to provide quality police and fire services along with wastewater treatment, to better serve all city residents and businesses, while enforcing the partnership that drives our progress.”
- Bryan Glover, President of the Clark County Commissioners, expressed appreciation for River Ridge’s contribution of $850,000 to support Clark County Sheriff’s department patrols as well as other emergency support services throughout the Commerce Center. “A safe, well served Commerce Center is essential to sustaining the economic momentum we’re seeing in Clark County. River Ridge’s contribution strengthens our shared efforts to support both growth and the first responders who make that growth possible,” said Glover.
- To support educational capital improvements, River Ridge is partnering with the Greater Clark County School Corporation to contribute $500,000 toward projects such as STEM labs in designated schools. STEM Labs are hands-on, interactive spaces that promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math skills through experimentation and creativity. Greater Clark Superintendent Mark Laughner said, “We are grateful for River Ridge’s commitment to fostering critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving in our schools. These skills will empower students as they continue to strengthen their academic foundation and equip students with the knowledge and confidence they need to succeed in their future.”
- River Ridge development within the limits of the City of Charlestown has certainly accelerated in the past few years. By today’s action, RRDA will work to contribute $250,000 in 2026 to Charlestown in exchange for sanitary sewer services as well as police services. Dr. Treva Hodges, Mayor of Charlestown and Chair of the RRDA Board, stated, “The City of Charlestown and River Ridge are committed to not only creating economic opportunities for Southern Indiana, but also to ensuring mutually responsible growth that supports our neighbors and communities.”
- Through mutual aid agreements, the Town of Utica supports emergency services throughout the River Ridge Commerce Center, as well. River Ridge has pledged $75,000 to support Utica’s efforts. Town Council President Steve Long said, “Mutual aid agreements work because partners step up for one another, and River Ridge continues to do exactly that. Their contribution directly enhances our shared ability to deliver high quality emergency services across the region.”
Depending upon its projected funding capacity from financial analyses, the RRDA intends to make additional annual contributions to these entities in 2027 and going forward.
About the River Ridge Development Authority
The River Ridge Development Authority (RRDA) manages the River Ridge Commerce Center, a 6,000-acre business and office park established in 1998 to replace lost economic activity resulting from the closure of the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. Today, River Ridge is home to nearly 80 companies such as Amazon, Meta, CTDI, Collins Aerospace, Medline, and Valeris. Onsite employment totaled more than 13,050 in 2025, and the Commerce Center produced a record economic output for the region. The investments and growth at River Ridge earned the RRDA the International Economic Development Council’s 2020 Gold Award for Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse.
Media Contact:
River Ridge Development Authority
Wendy Dant Chesser, Chief Director
Phone: 812-285-8979
Email: wendy@riverridgecc.com
