The Indiana Enterprise Center
The Department of Infrastructure, Planning, and Growth of St. Joseph County (IPG) has undertaken a rurally located development planning effort called the Indiana Enterprise Center (IEC). The proposed IEC is an attempt to attract large-format industry by preparing large shovel-ready parcels within the western portion of St. Joseph County. The IEC, as currently proposed, would be located east of the town of New Carlisle and west of the city of South Bend, in Olive Township, St. Joseph County. The IEC draft Area Management Plan presents 7,200 acres of industrial development as the Core Development area of the proposed IEC, of which approximately 2,200 acres has been previously developed. (Infrastructure, Planning & Growth, Division of Economic Development, “Indiana Enterprise Center Area Management Plan.” St. Joseph County Website. January 2020. http://sjcindiana.com/1798/IEC-Area-Management-Plan-Draft )
However, the approach to the proposed IEC by St. Joseph County is based on a flawed model of economic development and puts the county in the position of taking a very expensive and risky gamble in order to recruit new businesses. Notably, the county has not laid out specific goals, promises, or outcomes for the proposed IEC with respect to jobs, tax revenue for the county, or increased economic activity. The current proposed IEC plan does not prove that the benefits will be worth the risks taken. It is a gamble that does not acknowledge the full cost and never discloses the possible returns. No fallback alternatives are provided, and if the goals are not realized, no termination date suggested. The proposed IEC plan is public financial investment for the sake of itself, without any clear promised or demonstrated payback to the whole community.
IEC details
Indiana Enterprise Center website:
http://www.sjcindiana.com/1171/Indiana-Enterprise-Center
Antero Group - IEC
https://www.anterogroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Indiana-Enterprise-Center.pdf
Bradley Company Website - IEC
Top 5 projects in the South Bend - Elkhart Region
https://www.bradleyco.com/blog/2017/5/26/top-5-projects-in-the-south-bend-elkhart-region
IEC Documents:
St. Joseph County Website Document Center https://www.sjcindiana.com/DocumentCenter
From the dropdown menu select Economic Development > New Carlisle Economic Development Area > Indiana Enterprise Center > IEC Project Documents
IEC Plan Document
Infrastructure, Planning & Growth, Division of Economic Development, “Indiana Enterprise Center Area Management Plan.” St. Joseph County Website. January 2020. http://sjcindiana.com/1798/IEC-Area-Management-Plan-Draft
Public Comments on the IEC plan:
Infrastructure, Planning & Growth, Division of Economic Development, “IEC Management Strategy Public Comments.” St. Joseph County Website. Accessed November 8, 2020. http://sjcindiana.com/DocumentCenter/View/39347/IEC-Management-Strategy-Public-Comments-7120
MAPS
Open Space and Natural Areas - proposed bike trails
Includes a map of brownfield sites (none in the proposed development area)
Infrastructure, Planning & Growth, Division of Economic Development, “Core Development Area for the IEC.” St. Joseph County Website. January 2020. http://sjcindiana.com/DocumentCenter/View/28364/IEC-Planning-Geographies-10-22-19
Shows the 7,200 acres between US Highway 20 and State Road 2; how it overlaps with the New Carlisle EDA