SOUTH BEND —North of the South Bend International Airport, where corn and soybeans once grew, hulking steel structures now rise in their place.
The ongoing development of the Portage Prairie Business Park has fospecific sector: logistics and distribution. Located on the east side of U.S. 31 and only two miles north of Interstate 80/90, a steady flow of semis can be seen streaming to and from the area.
With two FedEx facilities, ChasePlastics, Pepsi and Hubbel-Raco already at the park, local real estate development firm Great Lakes Capital (GLC) plans to continue expansion, attracting jobs and leasing out two new facilities next year.
A new 210,420 square foot distribution facility leased to AM General was the first GLC-owned structure there earlier this year.
North of Adams Road, on the east side of the St. Joseph Valley Parkway, a second facility is nearing completion. The new building already has a tenant, CTDI, which is a Pennsylvania-based engineering, repair and logistics company.
By January, CTDI expects to move into the building that will house distribution as well as testing and refurbishment of communications products. According to the city’s development agreement for the site, at least 150 jobs are expected to be created at the CTDI location.
On Dec. 11, ground will be broken for another distribution facility that will be nearly identical to the neighboring AM General warehouse. The site is being developed with the help of a six-year tax abatement from the city and $450,000 in TIF money to improve sewer and drainage infrastructure in the business park.