ANGOLA — The concept of transforming an empty Angola industrial complex into an enterprise center project has become joint effort between the Steuben County Economic Development Corp., Angola and Fremont.
The proposed project, the Northern Indiana Lakes Country Enterprise Center, could be housed at South Wayne and East Felicity streets on the city’s south side. It would be designed for job training and business incubation.
The site’s 901, 903 and 907 S. Wayne St. buildings used to house In and Out Groceries and TransGuard Industries. All five of the site’s buildings provide more than 50,000 square feet of space.
Officials met at the site for a tour Wednesday and discussed possibilities.
Dave Koenig, SCEDC executive director, said the project has been under consideration for months. Design Collaborative, a Fort Wayne architectural firm, has been preparing preliminary designs.
“Everybody that has walked through the complex has shared the vision that we have for this facility — a center for Steuben County where resources can come together to support workforce development and small business development,” Koenig said. “This is not a new concept, but our plan brings together more activities that might (not) otherwise be housed in such a facility.”
He said the site could bring Ivy Tech Community College in as a tenant, possibly with its culinary program. The site could also house SCEDC, the Steuben County Tourism Bureau, the Angola Area Chamber of Commerce, Northeast Indiana Works (WorkOne) and the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center.
“We have cost estimates, but nothing is refined,” Koenig said and added to create the center it could need a $100,000 to $3 million investment to help with acquisition, renovation and equipment costs.
In a news release, the enterprise center’s purposes would include:
• a traditional business incubator where small and emerging businesses can rent space and access local and regional resources to support entrepreneurs and small business;
• allow for co-working space in a collaborative and supportive environment; and
• more than 8,000 square feet of space could be dedicated to technical training and 3,300 square feet of classroom space for a computer lab.
Dick Dodge, SCEDC Board of Directors president said: “Every conversation we have had regarding the project has been positive. Nobody has called us crazy for coming up with this idea. We take that as a good sign. The ECD will decide its next step at the March 17th meeting.”
The proposed enterprise center will be the project Angola and Fremont will jointly enter in Frontier Communications’ America's Best Communities contest. The contest is open to small and rural towns that demonstrate a commitment to revitalization. The contest features three competition rounds with prizes ranging from $35,000 to $3 million to be used toward community action plan implementation.
A Frontier news release said the company with its partners, DISH and COBank, want to support local communities, foster development, retain community members and promote population growth.
Fremont Town Manager Chris Snyder said he sat down with Vivian Likes, Angola city planner, about combining efforts to apply in the ABC contest.
“Neither one of our communities qualified. We talked about joining forces and sat down with a representative from Frontier. It came down to economic development is high and maybe instead of doing a community project, maybe do a project that will help the whole county,” Snyder said. “I think both communities could take advantage.”
Likes noted the building is perfect for the proposed project and said, “This has been sitting vacant at least 12 years. It’s in a central area and the county seat. Veterans could learn a new skill. There’s plenty of parking and I would not want heavy, heavy industry.”
“The only reason it’s in Angola is the property is there and that facility’s available. I still think it’s a good thing for Fremont,” Snyder said. “We have to keep moving forward. It’s not going to be easy, but if it goes — great.”
Entrants have until March 25 to complete applications. Up to 50 quarter finalists will be selected April 29; 15 semifinalists will be picked Jan. 13, 2016; up to eight finalists will be chosen April 15, 2016; and three grand-prize winners will be selected April 26, 2017, with first prize winning $3 million, second prize earning $2 million and third prize receiving $1 million. The three grand-prize winners will also receive an original outdoor mural created by a chosen local artist depicting the vibrancy of the community.
Angola and Fremont are joining forces because municipalities must have populations between 9,500 and 80,000 to enter the competition. Applicant teams must be composed of cross-sector organizations and each team must include three to five businesses that will benefit from the team’s public-private partnership. Applicants must also obtain $15,000 in matching funds.
Koenig, Snyder and Likes met with Mike Neville, general manager Northeast Indiana Frontier, Cindy Snyder, technical supervisor Northeast Indiana Frontier and Dodge. Neville said he felt Angola and Fremont has a good chance to enter the contest. In his Northeast Indiana market, he said he has two other entrants in the contest, Elkhart and Goshen.
“It’s really about what your goals are. It’s about economic development and community development,” Neville said.
Koenig said the site’s buildings have not be purchased by the SCEDC, Angola or Fremont. He said grants are being researched for help with financing.
“I think we can make a pretty good argument,” Koenig said about the contest entry.