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Redevelopment commission pledges $250,000 from Leesburg TIF for Fab Labs expansion
Summary
The Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission approved a $250,000 pledge from the Leesburg TIF to help fund Team Fab’s proposed Leesburg industrial incubator, conditioned on completion of required forms and reimbursement upon submission of paid invoices.
The Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission on July 11 approved a $250,000 pledge from the Leesburg tax-increment financing (TIF) district to support a proposed industrial incubator project in Leesburg.
Frank Levinson, representing Team Fab, told the commission the project would add roughly 36,000 square feet of new turnkey industrial bays to an 11-acre former John Deere service site and could generate an estimated 24–32 new jobs in 2025–26. Levinson said the total project cost is about $5,750,000 and that public funds would be used for infrastructure work — utilities, site roads, lot improvements and foundations — to make the site lease-ready. "We want the money to be used to support infrastructure here, not just to make the gold plating," Levinson said.
Commission discussion focused on how the TIF pledge would interact with the developer’s application for state READY2 (REDI) funding. Levinson said a county pledge would make the application more competitive and outlined scaled-back options if state funding is not awarded, including constructing fewer buildings or staging work to keep costs manageable.
The commission considered three options: an unconditional $250,000 investment reimbursed on presentation of paid receipts; a pledge contingent on the county providing a matching $250,000 and READY2 funds being awarded; or taking no action. The board voted in favor of a motion to invest $250,000 from the Leesburg TIF "pending completion of the form" required by the commission and with the understanding the funds would be reimbursable upon presentation of receipts.
The commission asked staff and the developer to formalize a development/investment agreement spelling out conditions and reimbursement processes. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.
Next steps: the developer will pursue READY2 funding and the commission will receive a formal investment agreement and the required form before funds are disbursed. The commission also requested documentation from the developer showing how public funds would be used and emphasized that any disbursement would be reimbursement-based.
