At least some restaurants planning to locate in The Yard culinary development, near IKEA in Fishers, have signed their leases and the first restaurant announcement should come in about two weeks.  That’s what Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness told Inside Indiana Business’ news anchor Gerry Dick in an interview that was first broadcast Friday evening, and was rebroadcast Sunday morning.

The mayor said there has been “tons of progress behind the scenes” in attracting eateries to the Yard.  The mayor repeated something he has said several time about The Yard – “Fishers residents are going to be excited.”

“It will be a culinary epicenter on the north side of the metro area when it’s all said and done,” the mayor said about The Yard.

The mayor also talked about a recent announcement that a local technology engineering company, Flexware, will expand in Fishers, adding 68 jobs and planning an investment of $7.8 million .

“We hope to partner with (Flexware) as we continue to develop the IOT (Internet of Things) Lab” Fadness said.  “Our fundamental belief (is) that this is the future of Indiana’s economy.”

The mayor told Gerry Dick there are people already moving into the new IoT (Internet of Things) Lab near Launch Fishers.  Firms should begin moving in during the first quarter of 2018 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony expected around that time.  The city is actively recruiting companies in the fields of manufacturing and agriculture to locate in the IoT Lab.

Fadness also touted job growth in Fishers during 2017, citing 2,500 new jobs this year and over 4,500 new positions created since he took over as mayor in 2015.

“We think that momentum is going to continue into 2018” said Fadness.  “We feel very confident that we’ve struck the right nerve on where we need to be with future of the economy.”

When news anchor Gerry Dick asked about IKEA and Top Golf, the mayor immediately cited the work by city staff to minimize traffic jams in that area of the city.  “I think a  lot of people were waiting for that kind of shoe to drop,” said the mayor.  “Our engineering team did a great job putting the infrastructure that they needed to really make that work.”

As to how local Fishers residents feel about these developments?    “I think people love it, said Mayor Fadness.  “Top Golf has 2-3 hour waits…IKEA has done really, really well.”