Budget committee approves nearly $100M more for LEAP district, including 1,400 new acres

The State Budget Committee approved nearly $100 million more for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s controversial LEAP district in central Indiana.

Some of that money will go toward securing about 1,400 more acres of land for the project.

The new money had previously been earmarked for the IEDC to lure an advanced manufacturing company to the state. But that project is stalled, prompting the shift to the LEAP district in Boone County.

The state has spent hundreds of millions on LEAP so far. And only Eli Lilly has announced plans to locate at the site.

But IEDC Vice President Mark Wasky said there’s “strong confidence” in conversations with other companies.

“The companies involved are engaged in advanced computing, information technology component manufacturing and biopharmaceutical manufacturing, which we anticipate will result in tens of billions of dollars in capital investment,” Wasky said.
 

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That’s all the details the IEDC is willing to share. And Democrats, like Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis), said more information is needed.

“I think the number of open-ended questions, the kind of dollar amounts, the uncertainties, the lack of the report on the water study alone — I don’t think this is a matter that this body should act on today,” DeLaney said.

The new land purchases will bring the total site to around 9,000 acres.

Brandon is our Statehouse bureau chief. Contact him at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.