Campbell's Catch Up: Monthly Update for May
IEDC To Sell Land Purchased for LEAP District
Over the past few years, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) has purchased 5,800 acres in Boone County for the LEAP district. With taxpayer dollars, the IEDC has spent close to $427 million. That’s an average of roughly $73,620 spent on each acre—for comparison, the average price of farmland in Boone County is $9,155 per acre. Our community has followed these land sales since they intertwine with Tippecanoe County’s water concerns.
A month ago, the IEDC listed two parcels with houses for sale. The IEDC claims its organization is “in the process of analyzing all land assets within the LEAP District.” However, both properties are listed at a lower price than the state spent, meaning taxpayers aren’t making their money back. Some residents of Boone County think these listings indicate that the IEDC is halting the project due to pushback. I’ve been vocal about the lack of transparency, oversight and local input.
These land sales raise even more red flags. For one, our taxpayers get the short end of the stick. The IEDC used taxpayer dollars without oversight or accountability, and now we’re not getting money back. Overpaying for residential properties jacks up the market value of nearby properties, potentially increasing property taxes and the price of available homes.
The LEAP project has stagnated, but it’s clear the IEDC still has plans for the area. I will continue advocating for our community at the Statehouse, and I will continue providing updates on the issue. As always, please reach out to my office at h26@iga.in.gov with any comments, questions or concerns.
Read more about the IEDC’s land sale here.
State Will Independently Audit the IEDC
Some more good news for our community is that the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) will be independently audited. Earlier this month, the state hired an independent firm, FTI Consulting, to perform a forensic audit of the agency and its affiliates. We also froze funding for the IEDC’s venture capital firm, Elevate Ventures, and spending from the IEDC’s nonprofit.
The forensic audit will take a magnifying lens to the IEDC’s financial records and business practices. They’ll also investigate potential misconduct, fraud or impropriety. It will take six months to a year for the consulting firm to complete the audit.
This is a big win for the Tippecanoe County Community. We were the first to voice our concerns over the IEDC’s lack of oversight and transparency. Our community had to fight for the IEDC to give us information and come to local meetings about the pipeline. I’m thankful that an independent firm is looking into the agency since it’s what's best for our communities and taxpayers’ dollars.
You can read more about the audit here.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Observed since 1949, May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Each year, Mental Health America releases a toolkit with a theme. The theme for 2025 is “Turn Awareness into Action.” This theme encourages people to move beyond understanding mental health issues and to actively engage in supporting those affected. A link to the toolkit is available here.
Mental Health Awareness Month is crucial since it educates people about available services, advocates for those who are struggling and reduces the stigma surrounding mental illness. A simple conversation can inspire someone to look for treatment options or mental health care. We must normalize the discussion as much as possible since nearly one in five U.S. adults has a mental health condition.
In West Lafayette, there are resources available for those who are struggling. Locations you can visit or call if you need assistance in Tippecanoe County include Valley Oaks Health, Mental Health America- Wabash Valley Region, NAMI, Meridian Health, Riverbend Health, Sycamore Springs, and Telehealth. Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can dial 988 to connect with a trained responder. As always, contact my office at h26@iga.in.gov with any questions or concerns.
Congrats to Our College and High School Graduates!
Congrats to the Class of 2025, whether you’re graduating from high school or from Purdue University. Graduation is a big milestone that starts a new chapter in young people’s lives. One of the reasons the West Lafayette community is so amazing is because of our high school and college students. I wish you success as you begin your post-graduation journey!
Indiana Opts Out of SUN Bucks Program
Sometimes, a child’s only reliable meals are their school’s free or reduced breakfast and lunches. Last summer, Indiana participated in a federal program called SUN Bucks to support these kids during the summer. Each child received $120 per month to help cover the cost of food. This money can also be used for free summertime meals and meals-to-go programs. The SUN Bucks program served 669,000 children.
However, these children won’t get support this summer. Indiana opted out of the SUN Bucks program, even though it costs the state no money to participate. It’s unclear why the state opted out of this program. Thankfully, families can still get meals through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) food service locations. But eliminating the SUN Bucks program makes things hard for our families. Sometimes, rural areas only have one meal site per county. If you take a look at the nutrition map from the Indiana Department of Education, most meal sites are located around urban areas. Providing money to families directly gave them more flexibility so they’re not limited by grab-and-go meals, especially for children with allergies or severe dietary restrictions.
I’m saddened that Indiana opted out of this program. Grocery prices are skyrocketing, and I think now more than ever, we need to support our kids.
Preserving Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
When Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was cut from our state budget, I was devastated. This program has been amazing for children in our community, providing free, age-appropriate books to children from infancy to five. In Tippecanoe County, 4,336 children receive a book each month.
While Indiana’s economic outlook was still good, I fought for the Imagination Library to be added back to the budget. We had the money, and I believe Dolly’s library is a good way to spend it. Then Indiana’s economy took a sharp downturn, and we were hit with a $2 billion budget deficit. Our state budget had to be cut by 4%.
We put all the funding we have towards public K-12 education and our Medicaid program, so Dolly’s Library did not make it. I’m still devastated that we didn’t have the money for this early literacy program.
However, the Indiana State Library started a fundraising campaign to preserve The Imagination Library. I’m thankful we’re looking for additional avenues to support a program that encourages our toddlers to read. I hope we will be able to fund the Imagination Library in our next state budget.
If you would like to learn more about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, click here
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In service,
State Rep. Chris Campbell