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Indiana Gov. Mike Braun on Monday said the state was selling the former General Motors stamping plant site on the west side of downtown to Elanco Animal Health for $27 million.
Braun, in a news release, said the agreement “enables Elanco and its partners, including Purdue University, to accelerate the creation of an innovation district in downtown Indianapolis.”
The sale includes 56 acres to the north, west and south of a 12-acre property across the White River already owned by Elanco, where the company has been building a $200-million-plus headquarters campus. The new headquarters is set to open Oct. 1.
The three-building HQ campus includes a six-story administration building along with separate two-story buildings—one devoted to lab space and one for a collaborative space Elanco calls its “crossroads” building.
The campus move-in will mark the official shift of Elanco headquarters from Greenfield to Indianapolis. More than 725 employees will regularly report to downtown Indianapolis rather than Greenfield, according to Elanco CEO Jeff Simmons.
The Elanco campus is an anchor of the planned OneHealth Innovation District, announced in May 2024 as a partnership between Elanco, Purdue University and the Indiana Economic Development Corp. The proposed district aims to be a research and innovation hub for human, animal and plant health sciences.
“This agreement is a responsible step forward,” Braun said in the release. “It places this property in the hands of a company with a clear vision of a world-class innovation district, while ensuring the state of Indiana remains a full partner in what comes next. This is about more than redeveloping land; it’s about creating jobs, attracting talent, and driving long-term growth for Indiana.”
The district is expected to connect research institutes, pilot-scale facilities, diagnostic labs and animal clinical care with offices, housing, retail and green space.
“This is about partnership and progress,” Simmons said in written comments. “The State’s willingness to work with us—not as a landowner but as a partner—makes this possible. Securing this property now gives us the certainty we need to integrate it into our headquarters campus and move forward with speed. That means jobs, investment, and an accelerated path to creating an innovation district dedicated One Health.”
Braun said the state “will remain at the table as the project advances, ensuring the site reaches its full potential as a world-class home for One Health.”
The IEDC bought the 91-acre stamping plant site in 2020 for $25.5 million from Ambrose Property Group. GM operated a 2.1 million-square-foot plant on the grounds from the 1930s until its closure in 2011, employing as many as 5,600 workers. It was mostly demolished in 2013.
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How does the State remain a “full partner” or “at the table” if the land has been sold to a private company?
Future funding, future tax incentives, future training incentives, future IEDC investments, and White River State Park, as a start.
Kevin, I understand that from the City perspective, which has zoning and other authority for use of the property, but it seems heavy-handed for the State to remain involved, except for possible funding (as you suggest). I guess “allowing the market to work” is becoming an anachronism for Republicans not just at the Federal level but for State gov’t as well.
It’s more business than politics Mike.
More like controlling business by politicians.
The state was not going to build on that land. They just wanted to control who it was going to for a cause that the state supported i.e., Elanco, Purdue, and other collaborative partners for the OneHealth Innovation district. Great stuff!