New swine barn completed at Starke County Fairgrounds
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The Starke County Fair has a new swine barn, thanks in part to renewable energy company Hoosier Solar.
The solar farm developer donated $58,000 toward the construction of the barn, which replaces the original structure built in 1962. The new barn is in the same footprint but is taller to provide greater functionality and capacity, according to a Hoosier Solar news release announcing the ribbon-cutting.
“We are committed to Starke County, and investing in the community and agriculture,” Hoosier Solar Vice President of External Affairs Nick Barbknecht said. “Our two interns from Purdue will be working this summer on agrivoltaics and figuring out how we can maximize the amount of agriculture we can grow within and around our solar farms. This is just an extension of that.”
Fair Board member Bob Binkley and Starke County Council President Dave Pearman said they appreciate the company’s financial donation.
“This new facility is a wonderful addition to our fairgrounds,” Pearman said, “and I hope more people will step up and contribute to continue the improvements.”
Hoosier Solar this week also announced a new downtown Knox office at 3 N. Main St. The workspace for local employees also will serve as a place where residents can stop in and learn about renewable energy, the company said.
“We’re very happy to be here, we appreciate the support you’ve provided us, and we hope we can be great neighbors as we develop our projects here,” Hoosier Solar CEO Steven Lichtin said in a news release.
Mayor Dennis Estok said the Hoosier Solar office is another step toward getting every storefront occupied in Knox, a city of about 3,700 located about 40 miles southeast of Gary. “It helps the downtown community also,” he said. “I appreciate it, and I’m sure we’re going to have a good working relationship.”
Hoosier Solar is pursuing two solar farm projects in Starke County, our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana reported in April. The company also pledged $35,000 to the Starke County Community Foundation to establish a permanent Hoosier Solar Community Fund.