Posted: July 12, 2023
City of Huntington Celebrates Completion of Phase 1 Infrastructure at Riverfork West
Huntington, Ind. – The City of Huntington and the Huntington County Economic Development Corporation (HCEDC) celebrated the completion of a $3.4 million Phase 1 Infrastructure Project serving the new Riverfork West Industrial Park on the city's southwest side. This infrastructure investment enabled the HCEDC to sell Lot #1 to Teijin Automotive Technologies Inc., where construction of a $110 million facility is underway on a 30-acre site.
Including Teijin’s 30 acres, Riverfork West Industrial Park spans approximately 172 acres.
“These are once-in-a-generation opportunities and the City team is using them to make infrastructure improvements that benefit existing residents and businesses in addition to new industry,” said Huntington Mayor Richard Strick.
“The local economic development team and various mayoral administrations since 1980 have dreamed about an industrial park at this location,” said Mark Wickersham, Executive Director of the Huntington County Economic Development Corporation. “The teamwork between the City, HCEDC, local lending institutions and previous property owners combined to create this exciting opportunity that is now becoming a reality.”
Industrial parks in Huntington—including Riverfork Industrial Park, Riverfork West, Commercial Road, Park 24, and the Erie Neighborhood Industrial Park—collectively account for over 50% of the community’s property tax base. Employers in these parks provide jobs for nearly 40% of the local workforce.
According to HCEDC, the 260-acre Riverfork Industrial Park East had a real property assessed value of approximately $234,000 in 1980. Today, that value approaches $37 million—about 160 times greater. It is home to Bendix and many other manufacturers.
Officials expect similar economic outcomes from Riverfork West. Phase 1 infrastructure projects included:
- Reconstruction of 1,550 feet of 200 N
- Construction of 1,110 feet of new Progress Drive
- Installation of 1,900 feet of new sidewalk
- Installation of 2,100 feet of new water main
- Addition of turn lanes at southbound State Road 9 and 200 N
“It has been a tremendous experience working with our public and private sector partners to translate this idea into a reality,” said Mayor Strick. “Even as we celebrate today and the completion of Phase I, design and planning is already underway to kick off Phase II infrastructure improvements.”
The Huntington County Board of Commissioners also contributed $100,000 in CEDIT funds toward Phase 1. The Commissioners are Rob Miller (President), Tom Wall (Vice President) and Terry Stoffel.