Franklin continued to grow in 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic, and leaders say the city is on track for more progress this year.
Mayor Steve Barnett’s State of the City address was part of the Franklin Chamber of Commerce’s pre-recorded 2021 annual meeting. The address — and the meeting — can still be viewed on the chamber’s YouTube channel.
The meeting took place without the usual lunch and networking event, but still shared the progress the city has made in the past year and celebrated local business accomplishments.
Barnett and Rosie Chambers, chamber director, both shared stories about how the pandemic had a silver lining in that city residents worked together and experienced personal growth through adversity.
“In addition to the struggles, I hope you’ll remember the silver linings of the community coming together and businesses finding new ways to meet customer needs,” Chambers said.
In his fifth State of the City address, Barnett recapped how the city, health care, school and business leaders banded together to get through the pandemic. As the pandemic raged, business continued throughout the city and residents found a way to thrive, he said.
“Even though COVID-19 has changed our lives, the City of Franklin is still on the journey to excellence,” Barnett said. “Franklin has 180 employees who are dedicated to making Franklin the best place to live, work and play for a lifetime.”
Over the course of the year, the city annexed 443 acres, awarded 159 new single-family home permits and celebrated the opening of 21 new businesses, Barnett said. Energizer alone added 450 jobs, he said.
Also in 2020, infrastructure projects for the Westview Drive and State Road 144 roundabout and the south Main Street gateway concluded, and city staff pursued plans for sewer projects on the east and west sides of the city, and a potential Interstate 65 exit at Earlywood Drive.
City leaders broke ground on the DriveHubler.com Amphitheater at Youngs Creek Park, with hopes to open it by this year’s Fall Festival.
The new park will include the amphitheater stage as well as a plaza area with parking lots, picnic shelters, a playground and public restrooms, and be accessible on the city’s trail network. The property won’t just be used for the city’s farmer’s market and festivals. Families can use the park most days of the year.
Several downtown projects, such as new arches installed in walkable alleys and painted electric boxes at Main and Jefferson streets were completed. The city also established an arts district and arts council to bring in more public art displays.
The Environmental Protection Agency and Indiana Department of Environmental Management made progress on several former industrial sites under remediation in the city. Clean-up at the Amphenol site is 65% completed, Hoagland Canning Factory is 45% completed and the Radwell International and Arvin’s sites are both 95% remediated, Barnett said.
“We are working really hard to have the cleanest city in Johnson County,” Barnett said.
The chamber also recognized several businesses and individuals for its annual awards. Main and Madison Market Café received the Community Impact Award. The Franklin Rotary Club received the Community Service Award. JP Parker Flowers was inducted into the Business Hall of Fame in for its 30 years in business.
It is shaping up to be another eventful year in Franklin. Body and car cameras are now in use by the Franklin Police Department, while the Franklin Fire Department hired its second female firefighter in the department’s history, and is working with the mayor’s Youth Leadership Council to install the city’s first baby box.
At least $2.5 million in roadwork is planned throughout the city this year, as well as a new roundabout at Arvin Road, Hurricane Street and Commerce Drive, and sewer work.
More industrial growth is expected, too. GDI Construction plans to build a 1 million-square-foot building east of I-65, and Sunbeam Development Corp. will continue planning for its roughly 500-acre industrial park.
Expansions of existing operations at IBC Advanced Alloys, Aisin, G&H Orthodontics and Essex Furukawa have already been announced, all of which will bring additional jobs to the city in the coming years.
Housing growth at all price points is a goal for Barnett this year, he said. Plans are already underway for high-end condos downtown, new single-family homes on the northwest side and market-rate apartments at the city’s eastern gateway.
