Thomas I.M. Ho has been an educator with more than 40 years of experience at all levels. At the post-secondary level, he created an academic program in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute which is one of the top undergraduate information technology programs in the country. He received his BS, MS, and Ph.D. degrees in computer science from Purdue University. Ho is a Boone County resident and recently submitted the following Letter To The Editor.
Kevin Keith-Owner/GM KNS Radio-10-13-25.
Recently, I’ve been focused on data centers and especially Meta in LEAP in Boone County where I live. I realize I’m “a little late to the party” since this project was announced late last year. Since then, I have been “doing my homework” and I have become even more interested in the future of LEAP. I have NOT been encouraged by what I have learned. I worry that LEAP will not fulfill its potential!
The forensic review of IEDC has motivated me to think in order to “make lemonade from the lemons” which the review has revealed. IEDC really needs to “pull a trick out of its hat” to regain the confidence of the taxpayers and especially the agricultural community which feels betrayed by the way IEDC created LEAP.
Thinking creatively, I wonder about a strategy to focus LEAP’s future development on agriculture. This would regain the trust of the agricultural community as well as the potential of LEAP to aspire to the standard of Research Triangle Park which I recall to be the inspiration for LEAP. With the creation of New Cortevas and SpinCo, IEDC ought to try to get them to relocate to LEAP especially since I expect they will outgrow their current corporate campus on Zionsville Road! Purdue ought to be encouraged to locate some of its College of Agriculture to LEAP which I am sure Purdue could be “motivated” to do by the General Assembly!
Wabash Heartland Innovation Network’s (WHIN) Agriculture Alliance COULD be relocated to LEAP especially since I became aware of some Boone County interest in joining WHIN, but this has some financial barriers which IEDC could mitigate.
I offer these ideas in the spirit of illustrating the creativity and good faith which IEDC needs to exhibit to repair its tattered reputation. Hopefully, these ideas will motivate others!
As this train of thought continues, I think that LEAP could get some new life after its slow start. I just don’t want to see more data centers in LEAP!