Marge Cox and Brian Hasler look on as Dave Cox is presented the
Sagamore of the Wabash Award by Representative David Crooks.
David R. Cox has been involved in economic development in Daviess County, first as the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce from 1978 - 1980 and then as Executive Director of the Daviess County Growth Council (DCGC) from 1990 until the present. With Cox’s leadership, the DCGC has helped decrease unemployment in the county from 18% in 1990 to its current rate of 4.2%
His first major accomplishment in economic development involved Tolkheim Electronics Systems. Though it took 4 years to accomplish, Dave’s office managed to entice Tolkheim to Daviess County providing 150 new jobs in 1994.
Since that time, he has been key in the expansion of existing industries such as Perdue Foods, and in bringing new industries including Laminex, United Films, Jae-Mac, Rescar Industries, Destination Yacht and Grain Processing Corporation to the county.
Dave attributes Daviess County’s success in economic development to the county’s many advantages, such as its central location, its excellent highway system, its proximity to Ohio River ports, its low utility and living costs, its availability of labor, and the work ethic and friendliness of its people. However, its greatest advantage, according to Dave, is cooperation.
“Key to our growth has been the support of the financial community and our elected officials,” says Dave. “Unlike many areas, the cooperation between county and city elected officials is completely bipartisan and influenced only by what is best for the county and its residents, not political platform or agenda,” he continues.
In addition to his role at the local level, Dave was also a founding member, in 1986, of the Southwest Indiana Development Council (SWIDC), the publisher of this newsletter, and one of the oldest and most respected regional economic development organizations in Indiana. He reasoned that growth in the region as a whole would be beneficial to growth in his own county. He also felt that combined efforts could more effectively address the needs of the region than any individual economic development office.
At the December 2001 meeting of SWIDC, held to honor Dave on the occasion of his upcoming retirement, Dave was presented with the Sagamore of the Wabash Award by State Representatives David Crook and Brian Hasler, on behalf of Governor Frank O’Bannon. The Sagamore designation, the highest honor which the Governor’s office can bestow, is a confirmation of the value of the work Dave has done for Daviess County
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Daviess County at a Glance
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| Founded in 1816 |  |
| Area - 400.7 sq. miles | |
| Population - 29,820 | |
| County Seat - Washington | |
| Unemployment Rate (September, 2001) - 4.2 % |
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| County Labor Force (September, 2001) -13,500 |
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| Regional Labor Force (September, 2001) - 80,370 |
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For more information on Daviess County, contact:
David R. Cox 812-254-1500
(growth@dmrtc.net)
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