2025 Mid-Year Update | DCEDP
Dear Partners, Community Members and Stakeholders,
As we cross the halfway mark of 2025, I want to take a moment to highlight the momentum we continue to build across DeKalb County. From record-setting investment to forward-thinking planning initiatives, your collaboration and support continue to drive our community forward. Here’s a snapshot of our progress and what's ahead.
Organizational Updates
We’ve continued to engage closely with local, regional and state partners, and I want to personally thank our DCEDP board members for their leadership as we advance economic opportunity throughout the county. We're especially focused this year on refining our strategic direction and broadening our impact through partnerships, infrastructure planning, workforce alignment, and positive community impact.
Local Economic Development Snapshot
Historic Private Investment
DeKalb County saw a record $760 million in new private investment in 2024, with that momentum carrying into 2025. Industrial expansions, residential growth, and commercial activity have been strong across the county:
Auburn is experiencing a construction boom: 131 new home builds, retail additions like Chipotle, Panda Express, Texas Roadhouse, Sonic, and additional commercial developments.
Garrett continues to thrive with active housing builds, a Walmart distribution center expansion, and manufacturing pipeline projects in addition to new local shops opening up in town.
Butler is working on brownfield redevelopment with a potential 225,000 sq. ft. spec building, expanded housing developments, assessing downtown redevelopment opportunities and additional commercial attraction.
2025 Project Activity
Arbor Wood Co. invests in their facility with new kiln to add to their service capacity.
The Auburn: proposed $18.5M investment in the former Auburn Hotel location for apartments and commercial space to be added into downtown Auburn.
Agriculture Projects: Carnahan Farms, Brand Dairy Farms, and IBDG Bio Gas all announced expansions in automation to expand their operations.
Backroads Distillery: On the campus of County Heritage Winery, a new distillery came online to distill spirits and serve up craft cocktails and signature bites.
Service Steel Framing announced a relocation to Garrett in the industrial park to add an additional 11 jobs on their soon-be-be industrial campus.
Community Project Activity
DeKalb Eastern School District recently dedicated the Aaron Willard Student Activity Center.
DeKalb Central School District has began construction on their football field stands and facilities.
Garrett-Keyser-Butler continues to moves forward on a new elementary building.
Strategic Planning & Policy
SEDP Plan Update
In collaboration with numerous community planning initiatives underway across the county, we’ve been catpuring feedback and input from these sessions as we work on updating our Strategic Economic Development Plan in 2025. Stakeholder input from across the county is helping guide our future priorities. Thank you to everyone who participated in these sessions.
DeKalb 2040 Comprehensive Plan
This collaborative planning process is entering its final community engagement phase. The plan will align transportation, land use, and economic growth strategies through 2040.
Infrastructure & Readiness
Brownfield County-wide Assessment Grant
As DeKalb County was awarded a $500,000 grant from the US EPA, we’re working with the county and community leaders to identify sites that need assessment to improve its chance at redevelopment. This grant can be used on phase-1 environmentals to identify any possible issues with the ground.
Broadband Expansion
Rural connectivity remains a top priority. Surf Internet and other local providers are making progress on fiber installation in underserved areas, boosting both residential quality of life and site readiness for new employers.
Opportunity Zones
Our designated zones in Auburn and Garrett remain a strong tool for business attraction, offering tax advantages and infrastructure incentives for qualifying projects.
READI 2.0
Our team has been successful in securing two projects with READI pledges from the Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority. These projects are The Auburn and the Bohn Redevelopment Project in Butler. Both projects have been sent on to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation for their review and consideration.
Workforce & Housing
Housing Momentum
Communities across DeKalb County are making strides to meet housing demand. Efforts include incentive determination, infill development, and planning for diversified housing types.
Workforce Development
We continue to work closely with industry and educational partners to strengthen training pipelines in advanced manufacturing, skilled trades, and youth apprenticeship pathways.
Looking Ahead – Priorities for the Second Half of 2025
Finalize and implement the updated Strategic Economic Development Plan
Support deployment of new broadband infrastructure across rural areas
Continue work through the Brownfield County-wide assessment grant
Advance Opportunity Zone projects and monitor pipeline activity
Roll out updated housing market potential and track associated builds
Continue promoting workforce training partnerships in priority sectors
Thank You
To our board of directors, municipal leaders, utility partners, business owners, and community champions—thank you for your continued commitment to DeKalb County. Your work and engagement are the foundation of our progress. Let’s continue building a prosperous and resilient future together.
Wishing you a strong and successful second half of the year.
Respectfully submitted,
Anton King
President/CEO
DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership
DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership
112 S. Jackson Street | Auburn, IN 46706
www.dekalbedp.org | 260-927-1180