Daviess County Partners with USTF to Accelerate Development at WestGate@Crane

September 5, 2025

ODON, IN — In a strategic move to streamline real estate development and attract high-tech investment, Daviess County has entered into a real estate agreement with the Uplands Science and Technology Foundation (USTF). The agreement, signed by the Daviess County Commissioners and approved by the Daviess County Redevelopment Commission on August 26, empowers USTF to lead development efforts on county-owned land near the WestGate Technology Park.

The Daviess County Economic Development Foundation is also a key partner in the agreement, which is designed to simplify the complex process of developing publicly owned property. According to Bryant Niehoff, CEO of USTF, the arrangement will allow USTF to work directly with private sector partners while maintaining the necessary separation for county governance.

“With property that is owned by public entities, there are a lot of steps that need to be taken,” Niehoff explained. “This process can be especially layered with several jurisdictions coming together at WestGate@Crane, and this agreement helps simplify that.” [southernin...report.com]

The agreement aligns with the WestGate@Crane Master Plan Development, which outlines a roadmap for governance and project implementation across the multi-county technology hub. Daviess County is one of three counties with land holdings in the area.

Since its founding four years ago, USTF has played a pivotal role in accelerating growth at WestGate. Recent milestones include:

• Amentum’s groundbreaking of the Radiation Combined Environment Test Facility, in partnership with Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane, to advance microelectronics for the U.S. Department of Defense.
• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions’ $50 million investment in a facility supporting hypersonic launch programs, expected to be operational by late 2026, creating 100+ high-wage jobs. [southernin...report.com]

Niehoff emphasized that the new agreement does not alter the county’s financial return from property sales but enhances operational efficiency.

“This agreement puts USTF in the operational capacity to work directly with the end user while building in the separation that the county needs,” he said. [southernin...report.com]

This partnership marks a significant step forward in Daviess County’s commitment to fostering innovation, economic growth, and regional collaboration at WestGate@Crane.