FORT WAYNE — Allen County officials have opened a shovel-ready business park on Interstate 69 just outside of Roanoke, a move that could benefit Huntington County, according to officials.
According to a press release, the Allen County Redevelopment Commission invested more than $6 million to purchase the land, which is close to the Fort Wayne General Motors Plant and Vera Bradley. This money, according to the release, was used to also construct new streets, extend water and sewer lines and design a regional storm water system so the developers won’t have to invest in a retention pond.
A shovel-ready site means that various preliminary activities, including surveying the land and demonstrating there are no environmental problems with the land, among others, have already been accomplished.
According to the release, the Stonebridge Business Park contains 12 shovel-ready lots, totaling around 124 acres.
Huntington County Economic Development Executive Director Mark Wickersham said these kinds of projects are good for the entire region.
“There will be opportunities for residents in surrounding counties as well as Allen County to find employment opportunities associated with those projects,” he said. “It’s always good for the region to see more shovel-ready locations being developed.”
This development will also be positively affected by the widening of Huntington County Road 900 North between U.S. 24 in Roanoke and Interstate 69, where the park is located, Wickersham said.
The 900 North Project is a $30 million project that will create a four-lane highway from U.S. 24 in Roanoke to Interstate 69 with a bridge over the Norfolk Southern railroad. The plan will be completely funded by the State of Indiana from $400 million set aside for highway construction projects.
Huntington County Surveyor Jay Poe said the 900 North project is going well with a lot of information, including a project timeline and road designs, being presented at an open house Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. at Cornerstone Alliance Church, 5833 E. Huntington County Road 900 North, Roanoke.
“They’ve got the surveying nearly completed, they have gone in and dug their test holes to see what kind of soils that we have and I haven’t seen any ‘bad’ soils,” he said. “The location of bedrock is at reasonable depth at the railroad.”
Poe said this project has helped spark some economic development, as he has talked to people who have expressed interest in property along U.S. 24 around Roanoke, as long as there was a four-lane road to Interstate 69.
“We think that could be advantageous for the shovel-ready sites in Allen County and at least two potential developments in Huntington County in the Roanoke area,” he said.