'Burb Bites: Shein's Central Indiana footprint expands
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Shein's distribution center in Whitestown. Photo: AJ Mast/Bloomberg via Getty Images
This week's news from around the region includes a new Shein distribution center in Lebanon, the debut of a fresh music fest in Noblesville and the return of an all-women running event in Carmel.
🛍️ International fast fashion giant Shein has opened a new 737,000-square-foot distribution center in Lebanon to expand its Central Indiana footprint to more than 2.5 million square feet.
- The facility is expected to employ more than 200 people — pushing the company's Hoosier workforce to more than 1,500 — and will use robotics and automation alongside workers.
- The Lebanon operation, located about a mile and half from Shein's existing Whitestown hub, is scheduled to begin operations this month.
🎵 In Noblesville, this week marks the debut of a brand new music festival with a workforce-development twist.
- Saturday's TradeUp Fest will bring country artist Larry Fleet to Riverview Health Arena while promoting careers in the skilled trades.
- A free daytime "trades village" will offer hands-on and virtual experiences in welding, electrical, HVAC and carpentry, alongside performances by Indiana artists.
- Founder Josh Cecil says the festival aims to expose students and parents to apprenticeship and earn-while-you-learn opportunities amid a growing skilled-trades workforce gap.
🧑🚒 Also in Noblesville, Ryan Fireprotection plans to more than double its HamCo headquarters with a $25 million expansion north of its existing facility.
- The project would add a nearly 50,000-square-foot warehouse, 67,300-square-foot office building and outdoor supply yard, creating room for the company's finance, administrative and support operations.
- The plan comes just two years after a $4 million HQ expansion as Ryan Fireprotection grows its national presence. The company plans to seek a tax abatement from the Noblesville City Council in October.
👟 The Indiana Women's Running Festival comes back to Carmel in mid-October, offering a women-only half marathon, 10K and 5K.
- The event kicks off Oct. 16 with a packet pickup and expo. The race itself starts from Civic Square at 8am on Oct. 17, followed by a post-race celebration with food and drinks.
- The festival, which moved from Indianapolis to Carmel in 2023, is Indiana's largest women-only half marathon and supports IWIN Foundation, Twisted Pink and Dove.
- Registration is open now with discounted prices through Oct. 15. The half marathon is $80, the 10K is $49, the 5K is $44 and virtual participation is $50.
🏘️ In Zionsville, developer Thompson Thrift Residential is proposing a $45 million, 179-unit apartment complex for the city's TIF district.
- Planned for an area near the intersection 700 East and Grove Pass, just south of Whitestown Parkway, the development would include three three-story buildings and amenities such as a pool deck.
- Zionsville is considering a project-specific TIF allocation to help fund infrastructure, with a bond repaid through new property tax revenue and the developer responsible for any revenue shortfall.
- The Redevelopment Commission advanced the proposal last month, but it still needs review by several town boards.