Three areas have been targeted for industrial development efforts by the Allen County Redevelopment Commission.  Industrial land is available in other areas of the county, but the three areas discussed here are the recipients of specific planning efforts and infrastructure investments.  Each area in the county is targeted for a different type of industrial development:  south -light manufacturing and distribution, northwest - industrial parks, and east - manufacturing and processing.

South Industrial Area

The south area is often referred to as the airport area because the Fort Wayne International Airport is located near its center.  Light manufacturing and distribution operations are being encouraged to locate here.  The area is on the north side of I-469 and is best accessed by the Bluffton Road (S.R.1) interchange.  It can also be accessed by the Indianapolis Road interchange.  The Airport Expressway, which connects the road north of the airport with the I-69/Lower Huntington Road interchange to the west provides direct access to I-69.

Airport Business Center Industrial Park is located north of the airport, along Airport Expressway (formerly Baer Field Thruway), within the corporate limits of Fort Wayne.  The Fort Wayne Airport Authority has developed the Air Trade Center on the west side of the airport for air related businesses.  Its first tenant, Kitty Hawk Air Freight, began operation of its cargo hub in July 1999.  Other industries in the area include General Mills, Waterfurnace, Tuthill Corp., and Coca-Cola Bottlers.

In 1993 a water line was installed along Coverdale and Pleasant Center Roads to serve the General Mills distribution center, formerly Nestle, that was built at the intersection of Bluffton and Pleasant Center Roads.  Water and sewer improvements have been constructed north of this area to improve system bottlenecks that affected service to the area. A new sewer interceptor which serves the land along Bluffton Road down to I-469 was completed in August 2000.  a 16-inch water main, 19,900 feet in length, has been constructed along Bluffton Road from Dundleburg Road to Pleasant Center Road.  These improvements have made the land along Bluffton Road immediately available for industrial development.

Northwest Industrial Area

The northwest area began development in the 1970s when Allen County, City of Fort Wayne, State of Indiana, and federal funds were combined to provide water, sanitary sewer, and road improvements to encourage industrial park development.  The emphasis was on an area along Cook Road, on the north side of Fort Wayne, between Coldwater Road and Huguenard Road.  Infrastructure improvements assisted primarily with the development of Summit Industrial Park which itself was financed with public funds.

After necessary water and sewer extensions were installed, other industrial parks were constructed by private developers.  The northwest area is located generally along Cook Road between Hanauer Road and Huguenard Road.  The newest parks developed in the area are Huguenard Industrial Park and Metro Industrial Park.  Summitt II Industrial Park was also developed by the City of Fort Wayne.  Each of these parks have ready-to-develop lots available of 3 to 10 acres in size.

East Industrial Area

East of I-469 and the City of New Haven is the east industrial area.  During World War II and aftrwards, the U.S. Army operated a supply depot in this area.  The supply depot is being phased out and portions of it have been sold.  Rail lines were constructed for the depot which, along with I-469, make this area desirable for industry.  Also of benefit are large parcels of undeveloped land.

Allen County, the City of New Haven, and the State of Indiana funded a water main extension, water storage tank, and road improvements to encourage industrial development.  That investment was primarily driven by Superior Aluminum Alloys which announced in 1996 that it would locate in the area.