NEW CARLISLE — St. Joseph County is making strides to develop an industrial park in this area, where workers will soon finish putting in water and sewer lines.
The $4.35 million infrastructure project — projected to be done by the end of this month — is viewed by county officials as key to the effort in the rural area, located east of New Carlisle in Olive Township.
The goal is to eventually transform hundreds of vacant acres into a business hub. Some businesses have already expressed interest in moving into the area, and one is expected to start seeking approval for a project this summer, said Bill Schalliol, the county's economic development director.
"We're taking leads for several industrial and commercial projects of different sizes," said Schalliol, who declined to identify prospects.
The water and sewer lines will span about 2.5 miles, covering a portion of U.S. 20 and Walnut Road.
The large sewer line is needed by the St. Joseph Energy Center, a natural gas-fired power plant under construction at the northwest corner of Walnut and Edison roads. That is why the company, which plans to open its plant next summer, agreed to cover the nearly $2 million cost to install the sewer line.
The county covered the remaining cost of the $4.35 million infrastructure project, paying for the water line and a conduit line that will be needed to install a fiber-optic line for broadband internet. That funding came from $9 million in bonds sold by the county, which will be paid back over 20 years with property taxes collected in the industrial area.