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 other parts of the Hoosier state flourished.

Here at home, leaders wondered how we capitalize on some of those opportunities other communities were benefitting from. To secure new opportunities, our communities had to figure out why we had lost others and what we could do proactively to stimulate new interest.

Many partners had to come together to make that happen. Our schools needed to perform better. We needed better housing options. We had to build the infrastructure to support new opportunities. Our tax, regulatory, and zoning environments needed to be clear and competitive. We had to improve the quality of place amenities that people today are demanding from communities.  

Most of that is a work in progress and never completed. Each day, we are in a battle with communities across the country for those individuals who are considering moving or businesses that are considering expansion. Great strides have been made; much work remains.

South Bend, Mishawaka, and St. Joseph County have made a lot of headlines. Existing businesses, such as AM General, Beacon, Lippert, and Verbio, along with a dozen other companies, have or are in the midst of major expansion projects.

New projects, such as Synergy Cells (GM/Samsung) and Amazon Web Services (AWS), are rapidly taking shape. Those projects are two of the largest investments in Indiana's history.  Microsoft will follow suit next year, as they’ve secured land and zoning for a major development project.  

Those projects aren’t without their headaches. There is a lot of activity currently on the west side of the County. During construction, several inconveniences arise. When complete, traffic will level off, construction activity will quiet, and new infrastructure improvements will make access to and from the area much easier than it is today.

These projects also bring numerous benefits to our communities. At the top of mind is the new job opportunities for our residents. On the AWS and Synergy Cells projects, the average wage on those jobs is 25% higher than the current county average wage. We expect similar from the Microsoft project.

All three will have some positions that pay more and some that pay less, as a wide variety of skill levels are required to run their local operations. We believe these projects offer great opportunities for our residents to take advantage of, and at AWS, many have already begun working.

All three of those projects will have a significant economic impact and will help grow the tax base at a time when reductions in property taxes threaten the delivery of local services. Large, new taxpayers could help postpone potential cuts.

Much has been made about water and power. All three companies have strong reputations for being good stewards of the environment. Plus, the County has gone to great lengths to

Place limits on the draw from the aquifer to ensure its protection.

Now, attention turns to another large data center user, eyeing the west side of the County. Watch for the County Council on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 6 p.m. to take final action on the zoning proposal for that project. These aren’t easy decisions, as Council members must carefully balance the need for new jobs and capital investment with the community's concerns. It should be a healthy debate.