The Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission is initiating a study for a new business incubator on the city’s southeast side, focusing on developing restaurant and retail spaces. A schematic design from Design Collaborative will assess costs for this project on city-owned land along East Tillman Road, with a budget not exceeding $28,000. The incubator is planned to accommodate three to five restaurant and retail spaces, utilizing shared resources and subsidized rent to lower startup costs for new businesses. This initiative is inspired by the success of the Urban Enterprise Center, which currently supports light industrial businesses.
The commission aims to sell the existing building housing current businesses, with proceeds reinvested into the new project at Southtown Centre. Commissioner Tom Didier emphasized the need for more local dining options in southeast Fort Wayne, underscoring the project’s relevance to the community.
Additionally, the incubator will provide more opportunities for graduates of the district’s entrepreneurial training program, the Build Institute. If the design is approved, construction may be completed by 2028.
In other developments, the commission approved Sweetwater’s annexation to facilitate a warehouse expansion that will create 300 jobs and integrate the company’s property into the West Highway 30 Tax Increment Financing district, enhancing the city’s tax revenue. The company’s entrance is set to relocate during nearby construction expected to conclude in fall 2027.
