Development News From Southwest Indiana

Tech park may reach beyond Downtown

By BYRON ROHRIG Courier & Press staff writer, December 21, 2005 (excerpts)
When, after Evansville Technology Council Chairman Daniel Bugher finished updating the Redevelopment Commission on the city's Certified Technology Park, commission President Bob Goldman asked him, "Can you provide us with some scenarios?"

One strategy will be to push the Indiana Legislature to allow the technology council to reach beyond Downtown, which comprises geographic boundaries of the tech park. A year ago, the park's energy was focused on revitalizing Downtown by developing high-tech potential, interest now has extended into other city locations where big technology users can be brought on board.

LaMar mentioned "life sciences" and "plastics" as possibilities specific to Evansville. "We're trying to take a broader view," he said.

Bugher told commission members that Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, who also sits on the tech council, will be seeking $200,000 in city Capital Development money next month to fund a two-year plan to get the tech park staffed and provide services it can sell. The sales will generate a cash flow the council and city officials hope will be enough to provide the local-government matching funds for the park.

The city must provide a 20 percent match for a $280,000 state technology grant it received in 2004. The grant may be split between operating and capital funds. The tech park also can collect up to $5 million in tax-increment funds, $3.1 million of which it received in November.

Between January and April, the tech council will spend between $35,000 and $50,000 with Thomas P. Miller and Associates to generate a business plan required by the Indiana Economic Development Corp.

The consultant is expected to provide ways the tech council's Center for Entrepreneurial Education and Technology can provide marketable services to schools and other institutions. Vision-e, the city's economic development agency, has up to now spearheaded the tech park, joining forces with the city, the University of Southern Indiana and Vectren Source.