Private, Public Parties Partner in Pike County
Image of I-69 interchange at Petersburg in Pike County courtesy of Hoosier Energy.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA public-private partnership is seeking development options for a large property in Pike County. The 340-acre tract called Generation Springs is located near the Petersburg exit of I-69 and recently earned Indiana Site Certified Silver. Pike County Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Ashley Willis says the designation gives it a competitive advantage for business-attraction efforts. Indianapolis-based mining company Solar Sources Inc., which has an office in Petersburg, owns the land. It is part of 3,100 acres that will be the subject of future master planning.
In all, the land is included in an 8,000-acre tract that is owned by Solar Sources. It has been approved as a Megasite Tax Increment Financing District by the county.
Solar Sources Business Development Executive John Mandabach is on the executive board for the Pike County EDC and says public and private stakeholders benefit from potential site development. He calls the state certification "the first stage of development" for thousands of acres. Mandabach says collaboration has been key. "One of the great things about Pike County is there is a unified vision for economic development there," he told Inside INdiana Business. "Unlike some other areas that might have some challenges getting everyone on-board, here you’ve got elected officials, whether that’s county councilmen or commissioners, the mayor of Petersburg, which supplies the water and wastewater (services) for the majority of the county, as well as Solar Sources, WIN Energy-Hoosier Energy, all in alignment, all with the same vision and marching to the same beat."
A consultant to handle master planning for a portion of the acreage could be identified within a year. Willis says she’s "elated" with the work among the various partners. "It affirms the shared vision for growth between the public and private sectors and further cements Pike County’s full commitment to economic development."
The PCEDC will hold a news conference Wednesday morning at the Pike County Courthouse to detail the partnerships. You can connect to more about Generation Springs’ designation by clicking here.