Purdue President Martin C. Jischke made these comments during the announcement of the university's Research Foundation's plans for the Purdue Accelerator Park at AmeriPlex-Indianapolis.

June 28, 2007

Jischke speaks on plans for Indianapolis-based technology park

Good afternoon.

Our special thanks to Mayor Peterson, John Phair and Nathan Feltman for joining us and being part of this exciting development and announcement.

What we are celebrating today exemplifies the great partnership that exists between Purdue, our state, Indianapolis and the private sector.

It is these public/private/university partnerships that are the key to the future of our state and our communities.

We have a very important announcement today as Purdue takes another step in our commitment to Indianapolis.

There is a great story in Purdue history about always wanting to build one brick higher, always working to do better than we have ever done before.

That is our commitment to Indianapolis -- to always work toward building our partnership one brick higher.

Today, the Purdue Research Foundation is announcing it will establish an Indianapolis-based technology park that will help high-tech entrepreneurs create new businesses and promote the expansion of established companies. We are calling it the Purdue Accelerator Park, here at AmeriPlex-Indianapolis.

The Purdue Accelerator Park is being created on 78 acres in partnership with Holladay Properties Inc. Holladay Properties is a South Bend-based national real estate development company that has several projects in Indiana cities, including – Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis,  Merrillville, New Albany, Portage and South Bend.

The Purdue Accelerator Park will accommodate up to 75 businesses and create 1,500 jobs with an average annual salary of $54,000.

The park is located along the I-70 corridor and near the midfield terminal of the new Indianapolis International Airport to give it excellent access to what we call “The Crossroads of the Nation�? in our state.

A successful technology park requires vision and practical experience, and this new park has both. This facility is situated in the heart of the state. It is so close to the Indianapolis International Airport that it will provide an additional incentive for owners of national and international companies to look at Indiana as a convenient place to do business.

The Indianapolis accelerator park will include:

* A 100,000- to 150,000-square-foot industrial flex building.

* A 50,000- to 70,000-square-foot multi-story office building.

* The potential for four additional buildings for companies to accelerate business opportunities.

* A 300-bed, six-story hotel with a 30,000-square-foot conference center.

* And three sites for restaurants or retail shops.

This is the fourth technology park that Purdue owns and operates in Indiana as we expand our work around the state. At each location, entrepreneurs and business owners benefit from the broad expertise that Purdue brings to the table.

Purdue's other established technology parks are:

* the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette,

* the Purdue Technology Park of Northwest Indiana and

* the Purdue Technology Center of Southeast Indiana. 

Purdue partnered with Holladay Properties on Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana, at Merrillville.

This is an exciting day for Indianapolis. This is an exciting day for Purdue. Thanks to our partners in this project. Thanks to all of you for joining us today.

I believe what we are announcing will impact not only the future of Indianapolis and our state but the life and strength of Indianapolis today as well.

Thank you all.

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