Expanding Certified Technology Park Capacity for Defense Growth

Challenge

Certified Technology Parks (CTPs) are a key economic development tool in Indiana, designed to attract innovation-driven businesses and support long-term growth. However, under existing state statute, CTPs were limited in their revenue-generating capacity. Once a park reached its $5 million lifetime cap (Level 1), it transitioned to a Level 2 designation—allowing $250,000 annually in incremental tax revenue moving forward.

For defense-focused regions like those surrounding WestGate Authority, this limitation created a significant barrier. Located adjacent to Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Crane—the third largest naval installation in the world—WestGate is uniquely positioned to attract defense contractors and high-tech industries.

However, these opportunities require substantial, ongoing investment in critical infrastructure such as water capacity and redundancy, electrical capacity, and sewage and wastewater systems. Without the ability to make these investments at scale, communities struggled to achieve the level of site readiness needed to compete.

Demand was not the issue. Companies were actively looking to locate in Indiana to be near its world-class military assets, but too often, a lack of infrastructure created barriers that pushed those projects to more competitive states like Texas, California, and Florida.

Without a mechanism to increase reinvestment capacity, Indiana risked continuing to lose out on high-wage jobs, private investment, and critical economic development opportunities tied to national defense.

Solution

RJL Solutions partnered with the WestGate Authority to develop and advance legislation that would modernize Indiana’s CTP framework and better support defense-driven economic development.

Through strategic advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and policy development, RJL Solutions helped introduce and secure passage of legislation creating a new designation: the Level 3 Certified Technology Park. This classification applies specifically to CTPs located within a military enhancement area—defined as being within five miles of a military base—that have already reached the $5 million cap under Level 1 certification.

The legislation allows these qualified CTPs to collect an additional $250,000 annually in incremental tax revenue, on top of the existing $250,000 permitted under Level 2 status. This effectively doubles their annual reinvestment capacity and provides communities with the resources needed to proactively invest in infrastructure and site readiness.

RJL Solutions worked closely with policymakers, economic development leaders, and regional stakeholders to clearly articulate the urgency of this issue, positioning the legislation not only as an economic development solution but as a strategic investment in Indiana’s role in supporting national defense.

Results

With the legislation set to take effect on July 1, 2026, Indiana now has a strengthened and forward-looking tool to support defense-related economic growth and competitiveness.

The creation of Level 3 CTPs enables communities to make the critical infrastructure investments necessary to support defense contractors and advanced industries, including improvements to water systems, electrical capacity, and wastewater infrastructure. These enhancements significantly improve site readiness, allowing Indiana to compete more effectively for high-wage, high-tech job opportunities.

Just as importantly, this legislation helps reduce the number of projects lost to other states by removing key development barriers that previously prevented companies from locating in Indiana. Communities are now better positioned to proactively attract large-scale private investment while generating increased local, state, and federal tax revenues over time.

Most importantly, this effort ensures that when companies seek to locate near Indiana’s world-class military assets, surrounding communities are prepared to meet their needs. By aligning economic development policy with the realities of defense-driven growth, this initiative not only strengthens local communities but reinforces Indiana’s role in supporting national defense—while keeping transformative opportunities within the state.