Anderson P3 Project Already Making an Impact

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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowOfficials in Anderson are touting the economic impact of an educational and industrial facility slated to open this fall. Mayor Tom Broderick says the $15 million Plant 3 Project has already produced opportunities for Anderson residents before the doors have even opened.
The P3 Project is a collaboration among the city of Anderson, Purdue Polytechnic, Flagship Enterprise Center and the Anderson Innovation Center, among others. When completed, the facility will include classrooms, a maker space and room for advanced manufacturing companies.
Leaders praised the project’s commitment to utilizing local and minority-owned businesses during construction of the facility. The city says contracts totaling $7.6 million, or 58 percent of the building cost, have been awarded to local companies.
"The Flagship has a long history of inclusion with over 50% of our loans going to minority, women, or veteran-owned businesses," said Chuck Staley, president and CEO of the Flagship Enterprise Center. So, when the opportunity to build a state of the art educational facility for Purdue Polytechnic arose, it was only natural to continue that tradition. I am very pleased that throughout the entire P3 Project, from architectural to the sub-contractors, every effort was made to encourage, solicit, and embrace minority, women, and veteran-owned companies."
Purdue Polytechnic Anderson students are also assisting with the project, including helping with LEED certification and other design aspects.
"Once opened, the P3 will be a beacon for accessible innovation to students of all ages, industry, and the general public," said Pete Bitar, CEO of Anderson Innovation Center. "It is our hope that we can, through inspiration and through providing the tools and talent needed, draw the best of the area’s innovative thought out and into the marketplace. There is nothing quite like what we have envisioned for the P3, anywhere in the Midwest, and perhaps not in the USA. We have an opportunity to play a significant role in restarting the engine of American ingenuity, right here in Madison County."
Officials broke ground on the building in September. The P3 building is scheduled to be completed in late October.