Homeland security facility to have huge economic impact
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

The face of Jennings County is taking on a whole new look with the changing of the Muscatatuck State Developmental Center to the Muscatatuck Homeland Security Training Center. The facility is located on the north side of US 50 near Butlerville.

The Muscatatuck facility has a whole new purpose and according to officials, the economic impact will be four times greater than it was at the time of the announcement of the closure of Muscatatuck State Developmental Center in 2001.

That is good news for Jennings County and even adjoining Ripley County, where many people sought employment from the former facility.

The latest announcement came when top officials from the Indiana National Guard met with local and state officials the last of January.

Major General Marty Umbarger, who heads the Indiana National Guard commented on the size of the facility and noted when it is fully operational it will have an economic impact of over $170 million annually. The facility is expected to be in full
swing in two to three years. The setting is perfect for the military to carry out its training in an isolated environment. The facility boasts over 60 buildings that include a hospital, school, power plant, and more.

The need for additional urban warfare training was born out of the war in Iraq, and when officials began looking for a place to hold these needed exercises, they found the timing of the closure of Muscatatuck to be perfect. They also found that the structures on this massive property and the location were exactly what they needed to train those going into
combat to have ultimate survival skills.

Jennings County officials are excited about the projected economic impact. North Vernon Mayor John Hall noted the economic development potential was great.

Inside the facility, Jennings County has 140 acres for an industrial park on Purdue University land. Trevor Lane, Economic Development Commission Director for Jennings County is excited about the possibilities of marketing this land. He noted that he believes many of the companies coming there will be
somehow tied in with the homeland security center.

Although there are many details to work out, including infrastructure needs, and noise level complaints from the helicopters flying over, the training center is on target. A spirit of cooperation is felt among local officials from Jennings County who are working with the Indiana National Guard on this massive undertaking to revive the economy in the area, and at the same time provide a place where military needs can be met.