February 2006
Planting Plymouth's Future at The techFarm™
Submitted by the
Plymouth-Marshall County
Technology Squared Initiative, Inc.
Plymouth and the Marshall County area have had a rich and successful history of supporting entrepreneurial endeavors. A group of business and government leaders created the PIDCO initiative in the 50's and 60's by looking toward the future and setting up Plymouth's first industrial park. This effort helped local industrial sector companies like Aker Plastics, US Granules, PiRod, Hoosier Tire, Chase Transportation, Glenmark Industries and others grow and prosper.
While it is important to continue to support and grow our industrial base, studies have shown that our future job growth will come from the transition of traditional jobs into the high wage, high skill jobs in an information-based, technology-driven environment.
In 2003, a group of community leaders created The Plymouth - Marshall County Technology2 Initiative (Technology Squared or T2) a comprehensive vision that will build upon the technical strengths and agricultural heritage of Plymouth and Marshall County. This vision positions the area for long-term economic growth, and will enhance the quality of life of the citizens.
The techFarm™ is a part of the T2 Initiative. The other parts of the T2 initiative, including the techVillage and the Community Resource Center, are rapidly progressing, and are approaching commitment from State and Local funding sources.
The techFarm™ is a technology park initiative that builds upon the area's technical strengths and agricultural heritage. Located at the intersection of US30 and Pine road, the park will offer a highly visible suburban setting where technology oriented businesses, agriculture-oriented technology businesses (AgriTech), and light industrial businesses can grow and prosper. This public/private partnership will include an R&D Testing Center, a new product commercialization facility, a state-of-the-art training facility, and plenty of acreage for company locations and expansions.
This initiative coincides with efforts that are also underway to aggressively implement a broadband strategy that will bring competitively priced fiber optic cable into the area via the Marshall County MetroNet project.
The long-term planning authority for the region, the Michiana Area Council Of Governments (MACOG) included the development of a tech park in Marshall County as a part of its 2000-2005 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).
The techFarm™ addresses the CEDS categories of Economic Development, Quality of Life and Infrastructure. The Economic Development category includes objectives to improve infrastructure surrounding telecommunications and transportation and improvement for development around land use, industrial expansion, small business, and financial incentives. The priorities and objectives of the Quality of Life category include: halt the region's 'brain drain' by attracting high-tech jobs, develop a better trained workforce to fill high-tech jobs, the implementation of Smart Growth initiatives and improvements for cultural and recreational activities. The priorities and objectives of the Infrastructure category include: integrating Smart Growth strategies in planning and development in the region, encouraging the use of redevelopment, and to promote development in existing service abilities of municipal sewer and water utilities.
An Economic Impact Assessment Study for the US 30 and Pine Road Economic Development Area completed in 2003 projects over the next ten years the potential for over 1,900 new jobs, $51 million of new wages and over $54 million of projected new true tax value.
This plan will not only benefit people who already live here, but will hopefully bring back some of those who have moved away. According to Jack Schultz, author of BoomtownUSA, "As a country, America is returning to its rural roots and are armed with powerful technological tools and can operate a successful business 'out in the boondocks.' Skilled and educated people are realizing that they can move from the big cities to the rural areas, and can continue to live a high-quality life." Particularly for those who themselves grew up in smaller communities, the choice will be progressive small cities and towns with technology based employment opportunities, high caliber schools, great parks, and first-class health care. In conjunction with this information, The Progressive Farmer, a sister publication of Money magazine, ranked Marshall County 52nd in its just-released "Top 100 Best Places To Live in Rural America."
The same entrepreneurial spirit that spawned the many local industrial companies in the 50's, 60's and 70's is alive today. Building a similar community effort to support this spirit is the main force behind the development of this initiative.
Today's leaders are committed to looking forward, and feel it's time to reinvent, transform and grow. The Technology Squared Initiative provides tech parks, a business incubator, broadband development, urban redevelopment, and a community resource center. Support of The techFarm™ is a positive step in positioning the area for long-term economic growth, as well as the enhancement of the quality of life of area citizens.
Companies or individuals interested in locating their business at The techFarmTM may call David Miller at 936-9886 for more information. |
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