ANDERSON — The proposed Mounds Lake Reservoir is being described by members of local chambers of commerce as a needed shot in the arm that would put Anderson back on the map.
Members of chambers in central Indiana were provided the opportunity to learn more about the proposed Mounds Lake Reservoir on Friday. Chamber members from Alexandria, Elwood, Yorktown, Muncie and Noblesville were hosted by the Madison County Chamber of Commerce at the Mounds Mall exhibit.
“We’re hoping to expose the project to the business community,” Dennis Ashley said. “It’s a chance for them to learn and dream about the potential of the reservoir.”
Ashley said the hope is that the area chambers will work together on a study of the economic impact in the surrounding communities.
Todd Rimer, with Elementary 12, said the reservoir project is an opportunity to put Anderson back on the map.
Rimer said he has been a resident and business owner in Anderson for seven years and has heard a lot of talk about ideas coming to the pike.
“Always talk about what we can do to get Anderson back on the map, that will have a huge impact here,” he said. “I’ve not seen anything before this that provides much hope and such impact.
“Economically, this can be a great move and improve the quality of life,” Rimer said. “There are a lot of people that still take a lot of pride in the area; imagine the level of pride when something like this is done.”
Rimer said there has been a lot of great economic development that has taken place, but what Anderson needs is a huge shot in the arm.
“I’m an interested party and supportive of the project,” he said. “There are obstacles that have to be addressed. I believe the people are in place to get this done. It’s going to take some time and effort.”
Tom Steiner of the Indiana Small Business Development Center agreed that if the reservoir becomes a reality it will give the area a big boost.
“There will be a lot of recreation, a lot of business renovation,” he said of businesses forced to relocate because of the reservoir. “This is a chance for Anderson, as well as Chesterfield, Daleville and Yorktown, to rebuild their business structure.”
Steiner said it will have an impact on Muncie as another place to go and play and do business.
He said Noblesville will reap the benefits of having more water and less flooding in the future.
“The impact is going to be felt far beyond this general area,” Steiner said.
He said the estimated cost of $450 million is probably low.
“There are issues that come up that no one knows about,” he said. “I’m more concerned about the impact of those costs on the local communities. The community has to have some buy-in, including financial. They need to take some ownership, which creates more participation.”
Gary Coleman of Farm Credit Mid-America, located between Anderson and Alexandria, believes the reservoir project brings opportunities for development in the area.
“There is a lot of impact for the overall community, residents and businesses,” he said. “I think the impact will be lots of development potential.”
Coleman said there has not been a lot of feedback from local farmers up to this point.
“We’re a cooperative, had an advisory meeting in June where a couple of farmers brought it up,” he said. “At that point we don’t know what the impact will be.
“Frankly, I don’t know the quality of the ground,” Coleman said of the farm acreage. “I don’t know if the quality of the ground will be real impactful to production agriculture.”