State of the City: Noblesville Mayor addresses growth, infrastructure and investments

From multimillion dollar investments to rebranding and partnerships, the City of Noblesville’s growth is not stopping anytime soon.

Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen gave his annual State of the City address Sept. 10 at the Riverview Arena at Innovation Mile, touching on growth, infrastructure, economic development and future plans while reflecting on the damage from last month’s historic flooding. 

Flood relief

Jensen addressed the recent historic White River flood that devastated homes, businesses and structures throughout the city, saying his address feels different this year as the city continues to recover. 

The city is still waiting for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assess damage. 

“We’ve been talking a lot to our state friends,” Jensen said. “We’ve done so much on the local level. I think we are probably leaps and bounds ahead of some other communities, and FEMA has prioritized them, which I understand. At the same time, our residents need help, too, so we need to see the federal government here in Noblesville coming alongside our residents, streamlining that process and helping them to get back on their feet. We won’t wait for the federal government, quite frankly, but we do need their resources.”

Public safety

Noblesville recently ranked as the 12th-safest suburb in America in a study by SmartAsset. Jensen said safety will continue to be a priority, with 57 percent of the city’s 2027 annual operating budget going toward public safety pay, equipment, supplies and training — up from 47 percent in 2020. 

The city also will break ground on a new police headquarters next month, and has identified land for a new fire station on the east side of Ind. 37.

Jensen said the city also is focusing on mental health support through the Noble Act program, a paramedicine program that launched six years ago.  

“If we can identify at-risk Hoosiers living in Noblesville, and get them the help they need before they get into our judicial system (or) hospital system, we can give them the hand up that so many of them need to be successful,” Jensen said.  “We’ve seen over 10,000 calls for service alone in the past five years.”

Growth and infrastructure 

As the city’s population grows, several infrastructure projects are underway to accommodate it. The city recently broke ground on The Granary, a $64 million mixed-use development and the first private development along the new Pleasant Street corridor. It is set to be completed by the end of 2028.

Construction also continues on the city’s downtown infrastructure rehaul, Embrace Downtown, to update the sewer system and make the downtown more pedestrian-friendly.

“It was long overdue to upgrade that historic downtown,” Jensen said. “We broke ground in March, and in under two months, we’ll be opening that project just in time for the holiday shopping season. Next spring we’ll break ground on Phase 2 of that project, but our goal each time is to start in the spring and be done by the holiday shopping season.”

The city also is planning to embark on its Ind. 37 project. After applying three times for a grant, the city was awarded a $12 million federal BUILD grant for the project, which is still in initial planning stages.

Economic development

Several new businesses have been announced in recent months, including BioLife Solutions, Evolve Transporters, Business Furniture + Co. and The Justus Companies. Jensen said the city has seen more than $4.2 billion of private investment in the last 6 ½ years. 

Noblesville-based businesses also continue to grow. Jensen announced that Ryan Fireprotection Inc., a full-service commercial and industrial fire protection company, is planning a $25 million expansion of its Noblesville-based headquarters.

The expansion, dubbed HQ2, comes two years after Ryan Fireprotection Inc. completed a $4 million expansion of its existing facilities, which added nearly 50,000 square feet to the company’s headquarters. 

“I think it speaks to not just Noblesville’s climate, but really central Indiana as a whole that we’re going to continue to not only bring new opportunities for residents, but expand the existing companies that already call Noblesville home,” Jensen said. 

Innovation Mile and Exit 210

Innovation Mile, a master-planned business district off I-69, continues to develop.

The Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile, home to the NBA G League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers, has been the host venue for 73 events, seen 60,000 people and generated more than $4 million in general revenue in its first year. 

Jensen also announced a rebranding for the 5,000 acre area, which encompasses several businesses, neighborhoods and venues including Ruoff Music Center and Hamilton Town Center. The area is being named the Deer Creek District — a nod to the former Deer Creek Music Center that is now Ruoff. 

“For a long time, Deer Creek Music Center was really the only thing out here,” Jensen said. “That exit 210 corridor (is now) really vibrant. We have corporate investment, entertainment (and) sports all along this area. We partnered with Hamilton County Tourism to think about the right brand that propels us into our future, but really is a nod to our past. As we thought about it, the name was there all along.”

Jensen’s full address can be viewed at youtube.com/watch?v=RQEcqwUTXZ8.