Indiana paving the way for corporations while leaving farmers behind

By BRIAN DAGGY
Member, Boone County Preservation Group

Indiana’s leaders love to celebrate big economic development announcements. Billions in corporate investments, thousands of promised jobs, and ambitious construction timelines make for impressive headlines. But what happens when the rush to deliver those projects comes at the expense of the Hoosiers who already live and work in these communities?

In Boone County, we’re finding out firsthand.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) recently closed County Road 300 North, a critical connection between State Road 39 and U.S. 52. The closure, expected to last through late November, comes at one of the worst possible times for local farmers: peak harvest season.

With this route unavailable, farmers moving equipment between fields in northern and western Boone County are being forced onto State Roads 47 and 32, which are already congested with construction vehicles, dump trucks, and workers traveling to the massive Eli Lilly and Meta projects within the LEAP District. Farm equipment often travels at speeds of just 25 mph, creating additional congestion and potential safety hazards on highways already struggling to accommodate increased traffic. There are also concerns that police and fire services won’t be able to get to some homes in a timely manner.

What’s perhaps most frustrating is the apparent lack of communication. According to local accounts, even the Boone County Highway Department was unaware of the closure until learning about it through Facebook. Many residents discovered the disruption only when they encountered closed roads, with little advance notice beyond signs posted a few days beforehand.

This isn’t simply an inconvenience. It’s another example of Indiana’s leaders prioritizing the demands of major corporations over the needs of the communities they have moved into.

Ironically, the Boone County Farm Bureau and Purdue Extension have spent considerable time educating thousands of construction workers at the Lilly and Meta sites about farm road safety. Yet now, during the busiest season for agriculture, farmers are being pushed onto major highways to accommodate the very development creating these traffic concerns.

We recognize that economic development and job creation are important. But progress should not require sacrificing public safety, local infrastructure, or the livelihoods of those who have sustained Indiana’s agricultural economy for generations.

And this issue extends far beyond Boone County. As Indiana continues pursuing massive corporate developments around the state, every Hoosier should be asking the same questions: Who is planning for the impact on existing communities? Who is protecting local interests? And who is being held accountable when those needs are ignored?

For too long, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and state leaders have measured success by the size of corporate investments and the number of jobs announced, without adequately accounting for the toll taken on local residents.

Boone County deserves better, and so does the rest of Indiana. Economic development should strengthen our communities, not force them to accommodate corporate timelines at any cost.

It’s time for state leaders to stop treating local residents and farmers as an afterthought. Our roads, our safety, and our agricultural economy matter just as much as the next billion-dollar announcement.

Brian Daggy is a member of the Boone County Preservation Group, an organization formed in opposition to the LEAP project. The group’s mission is to create a unified community voice focused on preserving local farmland and natural resources, while supporting responsible land development. You can follow the Boone County Preservation Group on Facebook.