evident in the initiatives undertaken across Auburn, Garrett, and Butler, each uniquely contributing to the region’s overall advancement. ECONOMIC GROWTH ACROSS DEKALB COUNTY Anton King, President and CEO of the DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership, highlights the county’s historic level of investment. “We’ve had roughly $760 million of new private investment, a record year for our organization.The majority of this comes from expanding existing businesses, although we have also attracted some new industries,” he says. He emphasizes that this success has shifted focus towards broader community development initiatives, such as housing and broadband infrastructure. Additionally, the county has been working closely with business owners to ensure that these new developments align with long-term economic sustainability and do not disrupt the existing community character. Mayor Dave Clark of Auburn shares his perspective on the rapid expansion in his city. “We’ve seen significant growth from 2021 through 2023, and that momentum continues. We are building a 131-home subdivision, and developments such as Sonic and Mike’s Car Wash are set to begin construction soon,” Mayor Clark says.Additionally,Auburn is working on a mixed-use development that includes multi-family housing, townhomes, a hotel, big-box stores, and restaurants. Businesses such as Verizon, Chipotle, Panda Express, Bell Tire, and Texas Roadhouse have already set up shops in the area, and more commercial investments are being made in the pipeline. “What we are seeing is not just expansion, but the creation of a more connected community where residents have access to both essential and lifestyle services right in their neighborhood,” he adds. Mayor Todd Fiandt details ongoing housing expansion and significant industrial investments in Garrett. “We’ve seen continuous housing growth over the past eight to nine years, with 129 homes at the city’s south end already sold and a new 41-home development underway. We also have a Walmart distribution center under construction and are in final discussions with an international company that plans to make a significant investment here,” Mayor Fiandt Downtown Auburn, IN 125 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 03 DEKALB COUNTY, IN
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