I recall an issue before the Fishers Town Council early in my time covering local government – a municipal investment in a new operation named Launch Fishers. It was introduced and quickly passed by the council at that time. I later discovered council members had hashed-out the proposal in a public work session. I learned my lesson and tried to be there when town council work sessions were scheduled.
Launch Fishers marked a way a small business, not quite ready for an office of its own, could move from the kitchen table to an environment of high-speed Internet connections and human connections that led to other opportunities.
The high-tech sector dominated, but was not the only business populating Launch Fishers. Many companies that have grown within Fishers were hatched at Launch Fishers.
There has been a new emphasis of economic growth in the city of late – the life sciences. Fishers announced several week ago that Stevanato, an Italian bio-tech firm, will locate a manufacturing facility in Fishers near 126th Street and Cumberland Road.
It was recently announced that a South Korean company, List Therapeutics, will locate in Fishers not far from the Stevanato facility. According to city officials, both firms will have manufacturing facilities in Fishers.
Yet another firm, Genezen, described by the company as a cell and gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organization, plans a big expansion to its manufacturing plant in Fishers.
All of this development will be partially financed through state and local incentive packages.
There is another business announcement I believe is worth noting. Mojo Up is a marketing firm that started in Launch Fishers and plans to expand into the heart of downtown, part of the Nickel Plate Cultural District, in the Switch Building.
Mojo Up is a Black-owned and minority operated company.
“The City of Fishers provided incentive support for Mojo Up through the City’s master lease program, which provides flexible, short-term lease options for growing businesses,” says a city news release.
The economic development of Fishers is continuing fall-speed-ahead under the leadership of Mayor Scott Fadness. The development along 116th Street downtown, which includes the First Internet Bank headquarters, is moving along and should be opening in the coming months. This will make a marked change in the feel and atmosphere of downtown Fishers.
The City is close to naming a design group for he new City Hall, which is likely to include an indoor facility for the arts. Another facility is being planned not far from downtown for indoor and outdoor sports.
One thing I have learned about Mayor Fadness is his desire to move forward. He is moving on life sciences, public facilities and minority-owned businesses. I do not expect any slowing down of that commitment anytime soon.