Do we really need Tax Abatements?
A tax abatement is a temporary reduction or phase-in of property taxes on new investment. Communities across the country use the tool on economic development projects to attract new jobs and capital investment to a community. Abatements typically focus on manufacturing companies because of the large investments they make in real property and equipment. New investments drive assessed value growth, which means after the abatement period substantial tax revenue for government un
To Develop? or Not To Develop?
To develop, or not to develop, that is the question. For years, our region didn’t see many new development opportunities. Companies shuttered, population declined, wages lagged, neighborhoods deteriorated, and families struggled. At the same time, the State of Indiana generally was doing well. Legislators created one of the best tax and regulatory environments in the country, the Governor and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation prioritized economic development, and o
Zoning Approach could put the brakes on St. Joseph County Development
What types of businesses or activities would you prefer not to have next to your home? Or, which use do you think has the most negative impact on the value of your home? Industrial Plant? Data Center? Solar field? Fast-food Restaurant? Grocery Store? Adult bookstore? Freight terminal? Landfill, Junkyard, or salvage yard? Mining? Ask one hundred people, and you might get one hundred different answers. The St. Joseph County Council last month determined that the one use that yo
Robots Prepare to Invade South Bend
South Bend is gearing up to host an International Robotics Competition at the Century Center from June 19-22, 2025. GEARS, the Granger Exploration and Robotics Studio, will host the largest premier robotics event in North America, the FIRST Tech Challenge Michiana Premier Event. The competition will welcome teams from across the country and around the world, including teams from countries like the United States, Brazil, Vietnam, Romania, Kazakhstan, and Thailand. Overall, 1
New Construction Brings Growing Pains
If you regularly travel US 20 or SR 2 on the county's west side, you’ve noticed a significant increase in traffic in recent months. Hundreds of construction workers are busy building out the AWS campus near New Carlisle, and soon, hundreds more will descend into the area to begin construction of the new Synergy Cells Plant (GM/Samsung). The two projects are generational projects that will significantly impact our area and provide excellent employment opportunities for several
Builder or Wrecker?
Former Indianapolis Mayor Bill Hudnut once shared a famous poem called Builder or Wrecker with me. I encourage you to look it up; it has a great message. At a high level, the writer asks which of these roles have I tried to play? “Am I a builder who works with care, measuring life by rule and square? Am I shaping my work to a well-made plan, patiently doing the best I can? Or am I a wrecker who walks to town, content with the labor of tearing down?” Have you been to a pub
Legislators Take Aim at Improvements to Indiana’s Tax System
We’re a month away from the start of the 2025 Indiana General Assembly Legislative session. This long session happens every two years and is when lawmakers consider the biennial State budget. However, it also means they have more time to consider many different issues between the start of January and the late April finish. A new Governor and a few new faces at the legislature have people speculating about just what might be the top 2025 priorities. Property taxes are one issu
AWS Offers New Career Opportunities for Local Workers
Last month, I had the opportunity to visit Ivy Tech for its two-day fiber optic fusion splicing certificate course on fiber optic installation and repair. Ivy Tech teamed up with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and other employers to offer this no-cost program for anyone wanting to enter the fiber optic industry and professionals wishing to learn fusion splicing skills. This was the first of many opportunities for people in our region to gain the necessary skills for jobs such as
We Could See Fewer Orange Barrels (unless something changes)
It’s a common anecdote in our area that we have two seasons, winter and construction. We’re nearing the end of the construction season, and over the next several weeks, you’ll see key road projects completed or buttoned up for the winter. Those construction projects are critical to our communities and the local economy. The Indiana economy thrives because of our ability to move goods, services, and people easily throughout the state. Each year, governments prioritize those cr
Develop or Preserve?
Earlier this summer, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture released a new report on the loss of farmland across the State from 2010 to 2022. The report was a response to the Indiana General Assembly's 2023 request for an estimate of the losses. News organizations across the State called attention to the loss of 350,000 acres of farmland, or about 2% of the total inventory. The report contained very few surprises. Though large industrial projects have garnered the most a
