This is the conceptual development plan for Technology Way at the intersection of Interstate 69 and U.S. 20 on the west side of Angola. The Angola Common Council approved spending an additional $2 million on infrastructure for the project in its meeting Monday.
This is the conceptual development plan for Technology Way at the intersection of Interstate 69 and U.S. 20 on the west side of Angola. The Angola Common Council approved spending an additional $2 million on infrastructure for the project in its meeting Monday.
ANGOLA — As the Technology Way project at Interstate 69 and U.S. 20 continues to take shape, it was determined that more money is needed than was appropriated in the annual budget, so council appropriated $2 million in additional funds for the project.

This portion of the interchange has been established by the city as a tax increment allocation area.

The city had already budgeted $1.8 million in the 2016 budget for the project. That money came out of the Major Moves construction fund and was for water and sewer. The $2 million appropriated Monday night is for streets, said Clerk-treasurer Deb Twitchell.

“The state changed its mind three times on where this money has to go to be appropriated for the streets,” Twitchell said.

These roads will have city right of way according to Mayor Richard Hickman.

The project is in partnership with a private developer, Angola First Development, which owns part of the real estate in the area and Speedway, LLC. It has development plans for a portion of the area for retail and mixed-use development.

Along with the appropriation, council also approved without limitation the mixed use development including office, commercial, industrial and retail uses in the development area at I-69 and U.S. 20 for both Angola First Development and Speedway.

City planner Vivian Likes said the project has been a process that has turned into a good partnership with Angola First.

“The project has taken all city departments to get to this point,” Likes said. “The city took the property in as-is, knowing we will be proud of it down the road.”

Likes said the project has been ongoing for approximately two years, involving every department in the city at some point.

Plans for a technology park were included in the city’s strategic plan. The city began infrastructure on the project in 2016.

The state’s certified technology parks program was created to support growth of high technology businesses. Certification allows local recapture of certain tax revenue that can be invested into the developing park.

Currently, the closest technology park to Steuben County is in Fort Wayne. There are 24 across the state.

The primary and secondary platting will be completed for the project location and will come to council for final approval.
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