By Noah Alatza
Indianapolis-based Knowledge Services, a workforce management solutions company, today announced a new, $17M headquarters and Green Acres Technology Park along the I-69 corridor, just north 106th Street on USA Parkway.
CEO Julie Bielawski, who founded the company in 1994, made the official announcement – flanked by husband and company President Joe Bielawski, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness – June 6 at the campus.
Julie said nearly 400 additional jobs will be added by the end of 2025, and more than 600 Indiana-based workforce positions are already in place. Knowledge Services currently operates in all 50 states.
Fadness said he had high expectations with the project after meeting with the couple late last year.
“With the mayor’s proven leadership and vision, Knowledge Services is incredibly happy to be part of this community,” Joe said. “We are incredibly excited to make it in Fishers.”
Julie also hinted at adding additional retail space to the southern end of the park.
“We could not be more excited to embark on this opportunity together. Times are changing. Twenty-three years in business and we have had to change ourselves at times.” Joe said. “We are incredibly excited about the amazing technologies that are being created and that we are creating.”
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch told reporters that Gov. Holcomb and herself stand “fully behind” the project.
“Government must and is embracing new solutions on how to deliver to the citizens we serve.” Crouch said. “Gov. Holcomb is working hard to get Indiana to the next level. It is incredible that (Knowledge Services) has chosen Indiana. They operate in every state, yet they chose time and time again to stay here and grow their company.”
Construction on the headquarters will begin next year, and the company is expected to move in as early as 2019. Currently, Knowledge Services has a long-term lease on an office in Castleton, which will not expire until 2025. However, Julie said the lease won’t pause the relocation plans. Indiana’s Economic Development Corp. offered the company up to $1.5 million in tax credits and more than $200,000 in training grants. The credits are performance-based.
Crouch embraced strong leadership from several local leaders, and did not shy away from publicizing who she believes is responsible for the additional jobs.
“It is because of our partners, leaders in the General Assembly, who put Indiana in the position it is in. We have balanced budgets, one of the lowest unemployment rates. We have cut taxes, curbed regulations,” she said. “(Knowledge Services) can stay in Indiana and grow their company successfully.”
Top city officials were hesitant to add any more retail following the new IKEA store and pursued efforts to prevent that from happening. In May 2016, the Fishers City Council upheld a measure that gave it temporary oversight of any new projects in the area, even if they met the existing zoning standards.
“This is a great win for the City of Fishers,” Fadness said. “There’s something special about this announcement; it is so exciting to have them announce this today. These owners are humble individuals, (and) their entrepreneurial story is one for the books.”
