I-69 (Exit 34): Exit 34 causes growth for Daleville

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November 11, 2008

Anonymous The Herald Bulletin Tue Nov 11, 2008, 07:52 AM EST

By JESSICA KERMAN

For the Herald Bulletin

DALEVILLE — As Nancy Johnson looks at her selection of purchased merchandise from the Great American Market, the large flea market in Daleville, she laughs.

“I spent a lot today,” she said.

Johnson is one of the regulars at the flea market. She goes at least once a month.

“It’s just a fun atmosphere,” she said. “I like to look at what’s new.”

The Great American Market is just one of the things Exit 34 on Interstate 69 offers visitors to the area.

“That’s one of the most attractive areas on 69 between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne,” E. Roy Budd, Energize-ECI executive director, said. “It’s centrally located and it’s very convenient with access to the interstate. We’ve already got quite a bit of synergy there.”

Energize-ECI is a firm that markets 10 counties in east central Indiana — including Madison and Delaware — to prospective investors.

While the flea market has been there for at least a decade, companies such as IBM have started investing in the area in only the past few years. The interchange has modified its function dramatically since I-69 was built.

Only 10 years ago, the land around I-69 was used for retail and service. Now, the area is being marketed to manufacturing companies as a place to locate. A prime example is the Heartland Business Park.

The business park was built to be a factory outlet mall, said Terry Murphy, vice president of Economic Development for the Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance.

Murphy said the owner of the mall sold it to the Horizon Financial Group, which could not maintain it because of financial problems.

“The outlet mall industry had some rough times with some stores, businesses and franchises that closed,” Murphy said. “As some closed in the mall here, it began to lose some of that synergy.”

The 220,000-square-foot mall was then converted to a business park by the next investor. The Heartland Business Park is almost full now, Murphy said.

“You’ve got over 1,000 jobs there that weren’t there four years ago,” he said. “I think Daleville’s going to continue to grow. I think the Heartland Business Center is going to continue to grow. We look for and expect the owner to expand the center. I think that particular exit is going to do very well, and we look for similar success on Exit 41. “

While economic experts project Daleville’s growth, they do not say the same about Chesterfield, the other community that shares the proximity to the interstate.

“The infrastructure was already (in Daleville),” Budd said.

According to census information, experts estimate Chesterfield’s population has fallen almost 7 percent since 2000. Daleville has fallen about 5 percent.

“This exit has had slower growth because it did not have infrastructure as quickly as Exit 26 and it is farther away from the Indianapolis market,” Linda Dawson, director of economic development for the city of Anderson, said. “Plus the choice of transportation services were very limited compared to Exit 26 (Scatterfield Road).”

Dawson said that Exit 34 still remains important to Anderson despite its slower growth rate.

“This exit of our community is very important even if it is in a slower growth mode,” she said. “This exit greatly reduces time and distance into our city for travelers coming from the north. With Hoosier Park having a large Fort Wayne market, this is very important. It is good for Chesterfield and Anderson.”

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xInterstate 69

I-69 (Exit 41): Five questions with an employee Bryan Carter, assistant manager, The Rental Store

1. Do you believe the interstate has helped business?

Yes, it’s easy to get to. It’s easy to pick up equipment and get back onto the interstate.

November 18, 2008 2 Photos
I-69 (Exit 41): Slow-to-grow exit shows potential MUNCIE — It may not have restaurants, casinos or hotels, but Exit 41 on Interstate 69 is on the cusp of development.

November 18, 2008 3 Photos
I-69 (Exit 34): Smokehouse keeps travelers coming back DALEVILLE — Motorists traveling along Interstate 69 near Exit 34 can’t see the trademark smoke billowing from Bird’s Smokehouse BBQ from the road, but billboards teasing travelers with hickory-smoked meats and Southern cooking keep the restaurant busy at every meal.

November 11, 2008 1 Photo
I-69 (Exit 34): Exit 34 causes growth for Daleville DALEVILLE — As Nancy Johnson looks at her selection of purchased merchandise from the Great American Market, the large flea market in Daleville, she laughs.

“I spent a lot today,” she said.

November 11, 2008 4 Photos
I-69 (Exit 34): Five questions with a businessman Mike Hiatt, 65, of Yorktown, is the owner of Racer’s Edge at 15119 W. Commerce Road, Daleville. Hiatt sells NASCAR merchandise and boasts that his shop has the largest inventory of NASCAR memorabilia in the country. Hiatt pays for two billboards on the interstate, one facing each direction, in order to attract business.

November 11, 2008 1 Photo
I-69 (Exit 26): Growing all around Since the departure of General Motors, Anderson has had to redefine itself as a community.
November 6, 2008 3 Photos
I-69 (Exit 26): Activity along I-69 keeps hotels hopping Americans are traveling less because of the poor economy, but hotels at Exit 26 are doing OK thanks to new growth near the interchange and steady businesses coming from nearby events.
November 6, 2008 1 Photo
I-69 (Exit 26): Five Questions with a businessman Rex Teeple move his established optometry practice to a new location near Exit 26 earlier this year. He is among the area business owners involved in a new initiative to promote the exit, goto26.com, The group’s Web site is not yet up and running.
November 6, 2008
I-69 (Exit 22): Upgrades spur growth at city’s ‘gateway’ ANDERSON — It doesn’t have the lights and attractions of Exit 26, but Interstate 69’s Exit 22 is fast becoming a destination for business while continuing to be a major entry point for the city.

October 28, 2008 2 Photos
I-69 (Exit 22): Growth expands south of Exit 22 ANDERSON — Sometime in the next year, drivers at Exit 22 should see major changes on the interchange’s drab south side. The city approved in June a 60-acre development that will bring a hotel, medical and retail sites. Construction is set to begin in spring 2009.

October 28, 2008 1 Photo
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