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Home , Fort Wayne (fort), Fort Wayne Derby Girls, Fort Wayne FC, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Indiana, Indianapolis

FASTEST- GROWING MARKET IN #1 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020) CITY FOR GEN Z TO LIVE WELL “ is becoming ON A BUDGET #4 (gobankingrates.com, 2019) flat-out cool. Still in the phase where a visitor to the city will have to know AFFORDABLE just where to look for the PLACE TO signs... It’s clear that there’s LIVE something afoot here, and #5 (niche.com, 2020) that in an age where we’re skeptical about everything, let alone lists making the rounds on the internet, Fort Wayne really is a place to keep your eye on.”

Food & Wine Magazine

Cover Photo by: Stephen J. Bailey

2 Choose Greater Fort Wayne, “The phenomenal growth of Sweetwater is directly related to the business conditions and quality of life in Fort Wayne. We recruit young talent from throughout the and beyond, and we’re extremely successful because of the low cost HOTTEST of living, great schools, HOUSING , and MARKET a long list of family- #1 (realtor.com, Jan. 2020) friendly amenities.” Chuck Surack Founder and President STATE FOR Sweetwater Sound #1 online retailer for musical and pro audio gear COMPETITIVE 1,700+ local employees TAX CLIMATE #9 (The Tax Foundation, 2020) BEST-RUN CITY IN AMERICA (wallethub, 2020) #8 Fort Wayne Trails

Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana 3 BOLD PROJECTS

The transformation has begun, turning the of the St. Marys, St. Joseph, and Maumee rivers into a vibrant regional landmark. With trails, boat excursions, kayaking, playgrounds, and more, Promenade Park (Riverfront Development Phase I) provides a variety of opportunities to explore. Phases II and III include mixed- use development around the Riverfront district.

Location: Between Wells and MLK bridges $100 million / Promenade Park opened 2019

One of the largest redevelopment projects in the country, Electric Works is the reinvention of the former Electric campus, a historic hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. The southern anchor of downtown Fort Wayne’s redevelopment activity, the campus is one mile south of the Riverfront and will offer a year-round public market, office space, support for entrepreneurs, shopping, and dining, complete with high ceilings and stunning views.

Location: Broadway & Swinney Avenue $440 million / Opening 2022

THE ASHBERRY

STAR Financial Bank will establish a new company headquarters in the downtown Ashberry project—a two-tower, mixed-use building that also includes a 387-space public parking garage.

Location: West Main Street & Maiden Lane $43 million / Opening 2023

4 Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana This investment brings boutique shopping and fine dining to Columbia Street, Fort Wayne’s original business district. Located just two blocks south of the Riverfront, the redevelopment of this charming street and its architecturally significant buildings includes 70 new downtown apartments.

Location: Columbia Street $35 million / Opened 2019

Ash Skyline Plaza houses the headquarters for Ash Brokerage and a parking garage for up to 1,110 vehicles. Adjacent is Skyline Tower, a mixed-use development with 125 apartments and a private park five floors above street level. Together, this block offers ground-floor retail and restaurants, with a mix of local and nationally known options.

Location: West Wayne Street & South Harrison Street $113 million / Completed 2018

A project led by ’s co-founder, this five-story, 125-room boutique hotel with restaurants, retail, and rooftop entertainment space brings dynamic new amenities for visitors and residents alike. Located just one block south of The Landing and three blocks south of the Riverfront, guests will have all the best of downtown a few steps away.

Location: West Main Street & South Harrison Street $28 million / Opened 2021

Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana 5 The upgraded Arts Campus Fort Wayne will be a state-of-the-art facility where creativity comes to life. Enhancements include improved accessibility, updated infrastructure, and a new wing for classes and rehearsals.

Location: East Main Street Planning phase

THE RIVERFRONT AT PROMENADE PARK

Just across Harrison Street from Promenade Park, this project will bring apartments, retail, and parking to the downtown riverfront. The six-story, mixed-use building will include more than 200 apartments, seven town homes, and a 900-space parking garage.

Location: West Superior Street & South Harrison Street $90 million Garage opening 2022 / Commerical opening 2023

PROJECT GATEWAY

Fort Wayne International Airport continues to raise the bar, building on 10 consecutive years of growth. This project improves the travel experience with a major terminal expansion, upgrades to the rental car , and more.

Location: 3801 W. Ferguson Rd. $50 million / Estimated completion 2023

6 Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana HIGH QUALITY, LOW COST MEDIAN HOME PRICES FOR METROS, 2021 Fort Wayne, IN $174,300 , OH $212,400 Louisville, KY $213,900 Chattanooga, TN $232,300 , IN $232,400 Columbus, OH $242,000 Grand Rapids, MI $242,100 Greenville, SC $256,300 Durham, NC $351,100 FESTIVAL Source: National Association of Realtors, Q1 2021

As a community, we invest in ourselves and our . We are building a region that provides you the opportunity to achieve your potential, whatever that may be. From big-city amenities, without the hassle or expense, to historic neighborhoods and rural charm, Allen has something for everyone.

ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Philharmonic Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo Clyde Theatre Embassy Theatre Science Central Middle Waves Music Festival Fort Wayne Civic Theatre TinCaps Hobnobben Film Festival Arena Dinner Theatre Komet Hockey Fort Wayne United Soccer Buskerfest Fort Wayne Ballet Mad Ants History Center Fort Wayne FC Soccer

ARTS AND THEATRE FARMERS NIGHTLIFE CONCERTS MARKETS

AFFORDABLE LAKES NEIGHBORHOODS ZOO PRO SPORTS

Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana 7 RELOCATION We’d to have you here in Allen County. Whether you are a current resident, a business owner, or considering relocating here, these resources can help you find opportunities and stay in the know.

GFW Go Includes information about bold community projects that are driving Allen County forward. gfwgo.com Greater Fort Wayne Inc. Chamber of commerce and economic development resources including market data, investor benefits, member business directory, and more. greaterfortwayneinc.com Onboard Fort Wayne Program that helps newcomers and their families live their best lives in Allen County by offering social events, community connections, and online resources. onboardfw.com Current Fort Wayne Your source for community events happening throughout Allen County. visitfortwayne.com/current Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership Jobs portal, market data, and recruitment resources to help prospective new residents get to know our region. neindiana.com Fort Wayne’s Downtown Improvement District Shops, restaurants, events, and virtual tours of downtown businesses. downtownfortwayne.com

8 Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana DEMOGRAPHICS

ALLEN COUNTY INCOME Per Capita Personal Income $47,602 Average Annual Wage $49,036 Median Household Income $56,838

POPULATION City of Fort Wayne 270,402 Allen County 379,299 Within 60-mile Radius 1,522,038 Median Age 36.0

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT Fort Wayne is the Less than High School 11% High School Graduate 28% second-largest city Some 22% in Indiana, and 77th Associate Degree 11% Bachelor's Degree 19% nationally. And, we Master's, Ph.D. and/or Professional Degree 10% are growing – faster than peer cities like Cincinnati, Omaha, and Louisville. Fort Wayne-Allen County is a welcoming and inclusive community that embodies the very best of Hospitality.

Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana 9 EDUCATION &WORKFORCE

WE HAVE TALENT. STUDENTS ENROLLED AT TIER 1 AND TIER 2 793,000+ RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES WITHIN 200 MILES

WORKERS IN THE 11-COUNTY NORTHEAST INDIANA REGIONAL 389,000 LABOR FORCE ASSOCIATE DEGREE+ ATTAINMENT AMONG 39% ADULTS IN ALLEN COUNTY COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN 31,000 ALLEN COUNTY AND UNIVERSITIES.

10 Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

“Delivering this project, from site selection to breaking ground, took just over two months. That process in a normal setting can be six months to a year.

I’ve heard from our client directly that this was the fastest speed to market they’ve ever seen delivered on this type of building.”

Scott Sanders Vice President of Development Ambrose Property Group Oversaw ’s investment of $200M+ in Allen County, 2020-21

ALLEN COUNTY, 2014-20 10,850+ NEW JOBS $462 MILLION NEW ANNUAL PAYROLL $2.7 B CAPITAL INVESTMENT

Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana 11 AIRPORT DISTRICT

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. m #4 S . STATE d Fort Wayne R International 12 na Airport dia RANK In 13 1 10 14 FOR COST Pleasant Cente r Rd. 2 11 OF DOING To Indianapolis BUSINESS (CNBC, 2019)

1. Assembly - $1.2B 8. Fort Wayne Metals - $68.7M 2. Android/Avancez - $14.7M 9. Faurecia - $18.5M 3. Franklin Electric - $25M 10. Anodize - $7M 4. Amazon - $289M 11. Lippert Components - $14.3M 5. Sabert - $26.5M 12. XPO Logistics/ Health - $39.8M 6. BAE Systems - $39M 13. General Mills - $36M 7. Vita Nonwovens - $19M 14. Walmart Dairy - $181M

12 Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana CAPITAL INVESTMENTS While downtown Fort Wayne’s renaissance receives national attention, business investment is strong throughout Allen County. Here is a snapshot of economic development investments throughout the county.

Allen County

7 15

33 16 8

24 30 2 3 6 Ft. Wayne 4 5 14 1 1213 27 10

9 11 30 24

27

1. Master Spas - $15.3M 9. FedEx Freight - $25M 2. Sweetwater Sound - $102.7M 10. Multimatic - $61.3M 3. ElringKlinger - $29.1M 11. Lifeline Data Center - $17.5M 4. Dana Corp. - $139M 12. Continental Tool - $22.4M 5. Essex - $16.6M 13. Sauder Manufacturing - $3.25M 6. Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream - $187M 14. Superior Aluminium - $26.12M 7. Silverado Cook Properties - $14M 15. BFGoodrich - $105M 8. Brotherhood Mutual - $25.5M 16. North American Cold Storage - $54M

Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana 13 MAJOR EMPLOYERS With a rich history in engineering and entrepreneurship and a deep-seated Midwestern commitment to service, our local economy is bustling with successful small businesses, established corporations, and foreign direct investment. Come see what the leadership of corporations like General Mills, Vera Bradley, Berkshire Hathaway, General Motors, and others already know about the Fort Wayne region.

Employer # of employees* Employer # of employees

Parkview Health 8,970 Raytheon 520 General Motors 4,320 Trelleborg AB 506 4,075 MedPro Group 500 Sweetwater Sound 2,011 L3Harris 480 Lincoln Financial Group 1,954 Do It Best Corp. 471 BFGoodrich 1,500 Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream 434 Shambaugh & Son 1,302 Sabert 400 Fort Wayne Metals 1,086 SIRVA 399 Master Spas 1,040 Superior Essex 394 Dana Corp. 960 Indiana Power 393 Steel Dynamics Inc. 950 Corporation 357 BAE Systems 824 3Rivers Federal Credit Union 350 Frontier Communications 652 Ortho NorthEast 340 Vera Bradley 611 Ruoff Mortgage 315 Norfolk Southern Corp. 575 Franklin Electric 300 Brotherhood Mutual 570 STAR Financial Group 300 Kelley Automotive Group 550 * Private sector only

14 Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana TARGET INDUSTRIES

Specialty Insurance

Lincoln National Corp. was founded here. It sparked a specialty insurance market that leverages a workforce with expertise in regulatory compliance, IT and user-experience design, and sales and customer service to set the industry’s new standard for excellence in risk management.

Medical Devices & Technology

Medical device companies in northeast Indiana—including DePuy Synthes, Zimmer Biomet, and Medtronic—generate $17 billion in revenue, accounting for one-third of the worldwide orthopedic market.

Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana 15 Vehicles

Indiana is America’s #1 state for manufacturing, and it has been for the last 30 years. Our manufacturers invest in technology to remain at the cutting edge and our workers are highly skilled and adaptable. Come see what drives Fortune 500 companies to invest here in Allen County.

Design & Craftsmanship

We are makers. Our manufacturing legacy has grown into a diversified economy anchored in creative services and quality craftsmanship. Where creative services, online sales, and logistics intersect, you’ll find our competitive advantage.

Food & Beverage

Success is sweeter here. From milk to chocolate, brewing to packaging, Allen County’s agricultural economy is booming. Our community offers notable corn, , and ice cream production and significant water pre-treatment cost reduction for industrial users.

16 Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana Advanced Materials

Your sourcing starts here. Our standing as a top American manufacturing market has cultivated a network of material manufacturers right here in northeast Indiana. From industrial to medical grade to cutting-edge materials, Allen County is the starting point in your supply chain.

Photo by: Steel Dynamics

Logistics & E-Commerce

With half of U.S. markets within a one-day drive, we deliver. Allen County offers customer access for the logistics and e-commerce industry through our extensive transportation network, proximity to the nation’s largest markets, competitive incentives, and affordable site options.

Sweetwater Sound

Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana 17 AIR SERVICE

Military and Defense Fort Wayne Fort Wayne’s military heritage is anchored by the International Airport 122nd Fighter Wing and a sizable veteran population. With the presence of innovative Serving more than 700,000 passengers in a typical defense contractors like BAE Systems, Raytheon, year, Fort Wayne International Airport is not only Dynamics, and L3Harris, Fort Wayne’s “Friendliest Airport in the United States,” it is also engineering expertise has produced some of the most convenient and cost-competitive. well-known military technologies. • FWA foreign trade zone designation • 24-hour FAA air traffic control and customs services • T-hangar rentals • Quick and convenient check-in

18 Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana TRANSPORTATION Drive Times Half of U.S. markets are within a one-day drive of Allen County. Madison Indiana ranks high nationally Des Moines Philadelphia Fort when it comes to logistics, Wayne 3 DAYS 2 DAYS 1 DAY Indianapolis , D.C. including #1 for connecting Cincinnati City interstates, the world’s second- St. Louis Louisville Richmond largest FedEx air hub, #3 in Charlotte Tulsa Nashville total freight railroads, and Little Rock Charleston Birmingham #5 in first-class railroads. Dallas More than 150 trucking and Jackson New Orleans logistics companies, including Austin Triple Crown and SIRVA, are Miami here to support business transportation needs.

Rail Service • Norfolk Southern Class I railroad access • Genesee & Inc. railroad partners

White L. 69 Huntertown Leo- Cedarville Grabill NS Harlan Wallen 33 469

NDW 30 NS Woodburn Arcola 24 CFER NS NS FORT NEW HAVEN WAYNE

30 24 Travel routes NS CFER Nine and surrounding Mile CFER Monroeville Hoagland communities in 469 Poe 27 Allen County Yoder 33 69

Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana 19 UTILITIES Water and Wastewater Proven, stable, long-term water supply • The St. Joseph River is projected to continue providing a plentiful water supply. • Fort Wayne City Utilities (FWCU) has 2.5 billion gallons of storage capacity.

Treatment capacity and savings • Average-day water demand is 32.8M gallons, well under total capacity of 72M gallons per day. • Typical cost reduction for pre-treatment ranges from 25-30% for industrial users.

Wastewater capacity and flexibility • Average-day flow is 45.9M gallons per day, well under total 100M gallon wastewater daily capacity. • FWCU has a great deal of flexibility and ability to take wide variations in waste streams.

Telecommunications Electricity& Natural Gas Allen County has 100% broadband coverage with competitive fiber-optic access. Verizon has invested more than $100 million in fiber-to-the-home, making Fort Wayne one of the first Midwest cities to have city-wide fiber-optic broadband services (FiOS).

INDUSTRIAL ELECTRIC RATES IN CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR (KWH)

Northeast Indiana 0.0717 Indiana 0.0740 0.0704 0.0682 Michigan 0.0712 0.0735 United States 0.0693

20 Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana BUSINESS SERVICES

Local service providers Each year, Greater Fort Greater Fort Wayne Inc. will assist your business with legal, financial, workforce, and other business Wayne Inc.’s business competitiveness issues. development staff meets Confidential site location assistance Our established relationships with local commercial with more than 500 real estate brokers allow us to quickly locate the right businesses in Allen site for your needs. Incentive coordination County. If you’re looking We partner with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) to determine eligibility for state to invest, expand, or and local incentives in order to lower your investment navigate a challenge, risks to promote new creation and capital investments. give us a call. Advocacy Our director of business advocacy lobbies on behalf of our business members, addressing legislative issues that impact our local economy.

International business development Led by our partners at the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership and the IEDC, our economic development collaborators are cultivating relationships to support increased foreign direct investment in Indiana.

Local businesses drive our economic prosperity, creating roughly 80% of new jobs and investment in Allen County. We’re here to help.

Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana 21 LOCAL INCENTIVES

Property Tax Phase-ins (aka Tax Abatements) Low-Interest Loans Tax phase-ins give local governments the option of The Community Development Corporation (CDC) of allowing certain businesses to phase in those new Northeast Indiana facilitates five loan programs for new taxes that would otherwise be assessed to their and existing businesses interrelated with job creation. property because of new building construction or These programs can fund a variety of business the purchase of equipment used for manufacturing, expenses including building purchase, renovation or research and development, logistical distribution, and construction, equipment and working capital, ranging in information technology. size from a few thousand dollars up to $5.5 million on the CDC portion of the project. Eligible Vacant Building Deductions If a commercial or industrial building that has sat Summit City Entrepreneur and 100% vacant for a year or longer becomes occupied, Enterprise District (SEED) the owner/occupant can apply for the eligible vacant SEED focuses on programs that support building deduction. Documentation entrepreneurship, innovation, technology development, must be provided proving that the building has been and small business development. SEED also offers unoccupied, but actively marketed for sale or lease, for tax incentives (investment deduction of 100% up to 10 at least a year. The deduction is 100% of existing real years, abatement deductions for vacant buildings, and property taxes for year one, and a 50% deduction in personal property assessed value floor exemption) year two. to businesses locating in the SEED boundaries. The district is located in the heart of the community, along Tax Increment Financing the railroad corridor that runs from east to west just TIF districts are established through redevelopment south of downtown. The district also includes several commissions. New taxes generated as a result of urban corridors. development in the TIF may be used as debt service on bonds issued for the purpose of developments and Foreign Trade Zone #182 improvements in the area. Proceeds from the bonds The Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) program operates in a may be used to construct public improvements on 12-county region in northeast Indiana. Any company roads, sewers, etc. within this area can apply to be a FTZ operator, allowing it to defer or even void payment of import Northeast Indiana Works duties, and often enjoy a lower tariff rate. Restrictions, Northeast Indiana Works connects with various state limitations, and regulations regarding how much and federal agencies to offer grants and incentives to merchandise can be brought into the country are eased businesses to help train workers. Northeast Indiana or eliminated as long as the merchandise remains in Works can also assist with hiring a skilled workforce the FTZ. Visit BizFTZ.com for more information. for companies that are expanding operations. Qualified Opportunity Zones Façade Grants The federal Opportunity Zones (OZ) program is an Businesses located within the Downtown Improvement economic development tool aimed at catalyzing District or within an Economic Development Target new, long-term investments and development in Area can apply for a façade grant from the City of Fort economically challenged urban and rural communities Wayne. It is a matching grant worth up to $20,000. across the country. Allen County is home to 10 A property owner must work with city planning staff Qualified OZs, and local incentives may be eligible for to make sure façade improvements meet use in conjunction with the federal OZ program. certain guidelines. Learn more at oppzones.gfwinc.com.

22 Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana STATE INCENTIVES

Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Patent Income Exemption Credits (EDGE) The Patent Tax Exemption allows certain income EDGE is a refundable tax credit program that rewards derived from qualified patents to be exempt from companies creating jobs and contributing to the growth taxation. The Tax Exemption for Patent-Derived Income of Indiana’s economy. EDGE credits are calculated as defines qualified patents to include only utility patents a percentage of payroll tax withholding for net new and plant patents. The total amount of exemptions Indiana jobs. EDGE credits may be awarded for a period claimed by a taxpayer in a taxable year may not exceed of up to 10 years. $5 million.

Hoosier Business Investment Tax Credits (HBI) Elevate Ventures This program encourages capital investment in Indiana Elevate Ventures is a private venture development by providing a credit against a company’s Indiana tax organization that nurtures and develops emerging liability. The credit amount is based on a company’s and existing high-potential businesses into high- qualified capital investment with the final credit performing, Indiana-based companies. Elevate amount determined by the IEDC, based on an analysis Ventures accomplishes this by providing access to of the economic benefits of the proposed investment. capital, rigorous business analysis, and robust advisory services that connect companies with the right mix of Skills Enhancement Fund (SEF) resources businesses need to succeed long term. SEF provides financial assistance to businesses committed to training their workforce. Trainees Next Level Jobs must be Indiana residents. SEF reimburses eligible Next Level Jobs is a campaign that targets training expenses over a two-year term. Companies working-age and Indiana employers with the may reapply for additional SEF funds after their goal of skilling up our workforce to fill the high-wage initial two-year term. IEDC typically does not provide jobs available right now in every part of the state. reimbursement for training that is required by law. The Employer Training Grant can provide training reimbursement of up to $5,000 for each new employee Community Revitalization Enhancement District Tax who is trained, hired, and retained for six months. Credits (CReED) The Workforce Ready Grant provides free training for CReED Tax Credits are available to taxpayers who Hoosiers in the state’s highest-demand jobs. make qualified investments for the redevelopment or rehabilitation of property located within a Redevelopment Tax Credit revitalization district. Only those projects that the Available as of Jan. 1, 2020, the Redevelopment IEDC expects to have a positive return on investment Tax Credit incentivizes redevelopment of distressed will be considered. Eligible costs include acquisition, properties. To be eligible for the credit, the taxpayer rehabilitation, architectural and engineering services, must make a qualified investment (approved by the environmental remediation, construction management, IEDC) in the redevelopment or rehabilitation of real and demolition. property located within a qualified redevelopment site. A qualified redevelopment site can be composed Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit of buildings, vacant land, or brownfields. The amount The Research and Development credit provides a of credit that may be awarded is 10-25% of the total credit against state tax liability for qualified company cost of the project. Projects that qualify for New research expenses. Markets Tax Credits or that are located in a designated Opportunity Zone may be eligible for an additional 5% credit.

Choose Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana 23