January 20, 2009

Purdue, state, local officials dedicate research park by new Indianapolis airport

The Purdue Research Park at AmeriPlex-Indianapolis, of which the new $12.8 million technology center is the flagship, will accommodate up to 75 businesses and create 1,500 jobs with an average annual salary of $54,000. Most of the new jobs will be in the life sciences and high-tech areas.

The new facility is located at 5225 Exploration Drive along the I-70 corridor and near the midfield terminal of the Indianapolis International Airport. The 78-acre site was purchased by the Purdue Research Foundation and Holladay Properties, a South Bend-based national real estate development company. The Purdue Research Park at AmeriPlex-Indianapolis is the centerpiece of the latest 400-acre phase of AmeriPlex-Indianapolis, a nearly 1,500-acre development.

Joseph B. Hornett
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The university has established three other research parks in the state: the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, Purdue Research Park in Merrillville and Purdue Research Park in New Albany.

"The Purdue Research Parks are situated along I-65 from northwest Indiana to southeast Indiana," said Joseph B. Hornett, Purdue Research Foundation senior vice president, treasurer and COO. "We anticipate the same level of success at the Indianapolis park as we have experienced at our other parks in the state. Combined, the parks support nearly 200 companies and provide jobs for more than 3,200 people."

The city of Indianapolis provided a $5 million grant to support the development.

Mayor Greg Ballard
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"Collaborative measures like the partnership with Purdue Research Park and Holladay Properties are key in cultivating economic development within our community and keeping Indianapolis competitive in the business world," said Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. "This facility and the expected growth of the area in the wake of the opening of the new Indianapolis International Airport will set the stage for Indianapolis' future growth."

The Purdue Research Park at AmeriPlex-Indianapolis will include:

* A 100,000- to 150,000-square-foot industrial flex building.

* A 50,000- to 70,000-square-foot multistory office building.

* The potential for four additional buildings for companies to accelerate business opportunities.

* A 300-bed, six-story hotel with a 30,000-square-foot conference center.

* Three sites for restaurants or retail shops.

Purdue previously partnered with Holladay Properties to develop the Merrillville-based Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana.

"This is the second major partnership we have had with the Purdue Research Foundation," said Doug Hunt, senior vice president of development for Holladay Properties. "With the additional plans to further develop the area with more business offices, restaurants and retail space, we know that this endeavor will not only strengthen our partnership with Purdue but also will support the economic development of the city and state."

Mitch Roob
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In addition to assisting with the Indianapolis site, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. has worked with Purdue on its other technology parks around the state.

"Innovations developed in the laboratories at Indiana's universities hold great promise for our state's economic future," said Mitch Roob, Secretary of Commerce and chief executive officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. "Technology parks provide the venue for these technologies to become the high-tech businesses and employers of the future."

To the Purdue Research Park, https://www.purdueresearchpark.com

Note to Journalists: Photos will be available after the event. Interviews and a tour of the facility can be arranged by contacting Cynthia Sequin at (765) 494-4192, (765) 413-6031, casequin@prf.org. Hornett is pronounced "HORN-it." The research park's first tenant company will be announced during the ceremony.

Writer: Cynthia Sequin, (765) 494-4192, (765) 413-6031 (mobile), casequin@prf.org

Sources: Joseph B. Hornett, (765) 494-8645, jbhornett@purdue.edu