A new look inside Electric Works for Congressman Jim Banks, other local officials

Indiana Congressman Jim Banks paid a visit to the Electric Works campus to see the work done so far.

He, along with public leaders, discussed the future of the project now that a new economic development agreement is in place.

Evening, i'm hunter petroviak.thanks for joining us.congressman jim banks along with local officials and business leaders took a tour of the electric works campus today after a new deal to help publicly fund the project was passed fox 55's caleb saylor is live outside the g-e campus and has more on what's next for the project.caleb?

Now that the new economic development agreement is in place, the electric works project can move towards closing and an eventual groundbreaking in 2021.

The 3rd district congressman, along with city council president tom didier and tom kelley took a look at what's been done so far at the site and discussed the future of the project "it's no secret that this project has been on life support."electric works project has new life now that a new commitment of 62 million dollars is in place from the redevelopment commission.

Congressman jim banks got a look at that new life today along with city council president tom didier and tom kelley, who he says were part of a group that helped get a deal done.

"but because of the pushing by so many leaders in the community like councilman didier, the civic leaders that we have that are trying to give back and make it happen.

Now we're closing than ever to seeing this come to a reality."

Didier, who co-sponsored a bill with councilman glynn hines to investigate the termination of the first economic development agreement, has said he did so to push the project forward and sees the vision of the project from progress made so far during environmental remediation "i've been here almost my entire life.

I remember the vibrancy of what this looked like back in the 60s and 70s and how it slowly deteriorated...the purpose has changed, but the buildings are still here and now they're going to have a different purpose."plans for the project will still include the do it best hq, a steam school and other educational endeavors, but it has new partners like tom kelley.

He says it was important for him to make sure the project got to the starting line so the community can be improved.

"i'm determined to do something here to help underprivileged kids.

I'm not sure what that will be, but some way to offer higher education to kids that just can't otherwise have that opportunity, in conjunction with the boys & girls club."

There's still time until the closing date for the electric works project, which is slated for december 31st of this year, and ground breaking is set for january of 2021.

Reproting live in fort wayne, caleb saylor, fox 55 news