Interchange, entertainment projects aim to spur development in Clinton County
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Construction is set to begin in the spring on a new intersection just east of I-65 in Clinton County that officials say could be an economic catalyst for the county and the city of Frankfort. The intersection is part of an effort to bring business to an area that Clinton County Council President Alan Dunn calls “the single best opportunity for long-term economic development.”
Plans are already in place for a $30 million entertainment and mixed-use development from Winamac-based Good Oil Co., the first phase of which is slated to open next year.
Jordan Brewer, president of the Clinton County Commissioners, told Inside INdiana Business the Good Oil project will serve as a foundation for development in the area.
“I think they had the vision for this project,” said Brewer. “It had accumulated over some time…and they saw an opportunity with us investing in the infrastructure out to [Interstate] 65 that they would have an opportunity to diversify their business.”
Brewer said the county completed a $30 million effort to expand water and sewer service to the area in 2021.
The first phase of the Good Oil project, known as Banderas Point, will include a 20,000-square-foot event center, a 5,000-seat arena, and a 200-site RV campground.
While the event center is slated to open in 2024, Brewer said the company is looking to get some things going this year.
“They own a parcel of ground on the northwest corner of the interchange, and they’re going to bring in a temporary stage and start hosting some events this summer while the main event center is being constructed,” he said. “That way, there’s kind of that transition to 2024 when the main event center opens.”
The second phase of the project will include a hotel, distillery and retail village. A timeline for phase two construction is not yet known.
Clinton County is located about 50 miles northwest of Indianapolis.
The new intersection will be constructed at State Road 28 and County Road 800 West. In addition to a new roundabout, crews will extend 800 W on the south side of SR-28 to open it up for further expansion.
The county said the interchange will promise to “roll out the welcome mat” for new commercial development. Brewer added the core industry that will be targeted for the area will be agriculture.
“To me, this is that blend of agricultural tourism, but it also has the ability to be expanded into other industries to attract those folks,” he said. “I mean ag tech, biotech, all of those…we’ll continue to look at industrial partners, food processing. That kind of is our staple in this community, and we believe that those industries fit in with what we want.”
Brewer said continuing to develop untapped areas will boost the assessed value for the county, and as well as jobs and population.
“We want to have more people move here and see that it’s a great place to live and raise a family and so without amenities, especially entertainment based amenities, that’s really hard to do. And so we need to continue to bring those is at the front…and have economic development that creates jobs for those people to be a part of our community.”
The area is located between two sites of continued economic development, Purdue University and the planned LEAP Lebanon Innovation District in Boone County, which Brewer said will benefit Clinton County.
“There’s been talk of that vision of the development through the [Interstate] 65 and [State Road] 52 corridor. Well, Clinton County is right in the middle of that corridor between the two areas that are currently in in development or continuing to develop. So it’ll be a little bit of just the overflow from that, because this will be the next place that’s attainable from just a land perspective for growth.”
The county says the area of development at the new intersection will be annexed by the city of Frankfort in 2024.