Garrett, IN

Growing with Purpose, Planning with Vision

This Northeast Indiana City Is Pairing Strategic Growth with Hometown Character, Infrastructure Investment, and a Strong Commitment to Community

 

In today’s municipal landscape, smaller cities that thrive are often those that understand how to balance growth with identity. They know how to attract new business and housing without losing the close-knit feel that makes residents want to stay. In Garrett, Indiana, that balance is clearly top of mind.

Located in DeKalb County and positioned near major transportation corridors, Garrett is leveraging its location, schools, infrastructure, and community-minded leadership to create steady forward momentum.

Under the guidance of Mayor Todd Fiandt and city planner Madalyn Sade-Bartl, the city is advancing a range of priorities—from downtown planning and housing growth to utility upgrades, workforce development, and business attraction.

For Garrett, the mission is not simply to grow. It is to grow well.

A Strategic Location with Small-Town Appeal

Garrett’s advantages begin with geography. The city sits just minutes from Interstate 69, within easy reach of Fort Wayne and Interstate 80/90, giving residents and businesses access to major regional and national transportation routes.

“Probably first of all would be the location of where we are in the state,” says Mayor Todd Fiandt. “We’re close to Fort Wayne, the second-largest city in the state. We’re three minutes off of a major interstate.”

That accessibility is further enhanced by dual rail lines running through the community and proximity to fast-growing neighboring cities like Auburn. For industrial and logistics-related businesses, that connectivity makes Garrett an especially attractive place to locate.

But location is only part of the story.

Garrett also offers the qualities many families and businesses are seeking: a manageable size, a strong sense of community, and quality schools. With a population of roughly 6,500, it remains a place where people can feel connected while still benefiting from nearby urban amenities.

“It’s a good place to call home,” Fiandt says.

A Community Planning for the Long Term

As Garrett grows, city leadership is focused on making sure that growth is guided by a clear and inclusive vision.

One of the city’s most important current initiatives is the update of its comprehensive plan. For Bartl, who recently came on board as a full-time planner, this was an immediate priority.

“We need to know what Garrett’s going to look like in 10, 20, 30 years from now,” she explains.

Just as importantly, the city wants the plan to reflect the aspirations of residents themselves. Public workshops, brainstorming sessions, and community engagement efforts are expected to play a major role in shaping the final document.

That emphasis on public input reflects a broader philosophy in Garrett: planning should not be dictated only from City Hall. It should emerge from collaboration with the people who live and work in the community every day.

Downtown Focus Remains Central

Like many thriving cities, Garrett understands that downtown matters. It is the face of the community, the center of local identity, and often the first place where residents and visitors gauge momentum.

While the updated comprehensive plan will help sharpen the long-term vision for Garrett’s core, city leadership is already focused on attracting the kinds of businesses that give a downtown energy and staying power.

“We want those small businesses, those local businesses, to come to Garrett itself,” Bartl says. “We’ve got our industrial park north of town, but we need things here in downtown that really bring people into the downtown area and keep them here.”

That effort is already bearing fruit. Recent additions include a new creative art studio, while established local favorites such as Shorty’s Steakhouse and Garrett House of Pancakes continue to draw customers from across the region.

For city leaders, this mix of local entrepreneurship and destination-oriented businesses is exactly the kind of momentum they want to build on.

Tools for Business Attraction

Garrett is open for business—and it has put real tools in place to support that claim.

The city utilizes a Tax Increment Financing district and has also offered tax abatements to help attract investment. These incentives, paired with local leadership’s willingness to work directly with businesses, have helped position Garrett competitively.

“It’s working,” Fiandt says.

That is reflected not only in downtown business activity but also in larger industrial development. The Walmart distribution center is currently undergoing a major expansion, effectively doubling its footprint, while Service Steel is another significant industrial presence coming into the community.

These projects strengthen Garrett’s economic base while reinforcing the city’s growing importance as a business-friendly location in northeast Indiana.

Parks, Green Space, and Gathering Places

Even as Garrett focuses on development, it is also paying attention to placemaking and quality of life.

The city currently owns and operates six parks, giving residents a range of recreational spaces. Leadership is now also exploring the addition of a pocket park downtown, potentially transforming an underused site near City Hall into an inviting public gathering place.

The concept reflects a trend seen in many communities: smaller, well-designed green spaces that encourage residents to linger, gather, and enjoy the downtown environment.

Whether it is families grabbing a treat nearby or residents attending a small community event, the pocket park would help reinforce downtown as more than a commercial district. It would become even more of a social space.

Critical Infrastructure Supports Future Growth

Like many growing municipalities, Garrett knows that economic development depends on infrastructure readiness.

One of the city’s most important current projects is a new electric substation, designed to increase capacity and prepare Garrett for future industrial growth. The need became especially clear when a large prospective user would have consumed nearly all existing electrical capacity.

By investing ahead of demand, the city is making sure it can accommodate future projects while also improving redundancy and resilience in the system.

“If we had this other substation built, we’d be able to transfer the load,” Fiandt explains. “It’s pretty important.”

Road infrastructure is another ongoing priority. Garrett has been active in securing Community Crossings matching grants through the Indiana Department of Transportation and is moving ahead with a six-road resurfacing project scheduled for 2026. That work includes not only neighborhood streets but also an important connector route used heavily by commuters.

Meanwhile, fiber access—once a pressing need—has improved substantially in recent years thanks to continued installation work by area providers. Together, these efforts are helping Garrett build the physical foundation needed for both residential and commercial growth.

Housing Demand Is Strong

Garrett’s housing picture is one of the clearest indicators that the city’s momentum is real.

Over the past 15 years, the city has seen multiple residential additions come online, including one 129-home development that filled in roughly three years—a strong sign of demand in the market.

Now, another residential project is underway, with homes currently being built and more on the way. This latest addition is expected to include 41 homes, generally priced from the high $200,000s to the mid-$300,000s.

There is already strong interest from buyers.

The housing trend reflects Garrett’s broader appeal: a family-oriented community with convenient access to jobs, schools, and nearby cities. It also points to an important challenge the city shares with many others—ensuring enough variety in housing stock to meet the needs of different demographics.

Fiandt notes that Garrett, like many communities, also needs more senior-oriented housing options for residents who are looking to downsize while remaining in town.

That recognition is important. Long-term housing success depends not only on building new homes but on ensuring a community can serve residents through different stages of life.

Partnerships Help Move the City Forward

Garrett’s progress is being supported by strong partnerships, particularly with DeKalb County Economic Development. The organization has been instrumental in helping the city pursue industrial opportunities and support projects such as retail and logistics-related growth.

That collaboration gives Garrett added reach and expertise as it works to compete for investment.

At the same time, city leadership sees room for even more local business coordination. One goal Bartl has identified is the eventual creation of a dedicated Garrett Chamber of Commerce, giving local businesses a stronger platform for networking, promotion, and event collaboration.

That kind of organization could play a valuable role in helping Garrett strengthen its downtown, amplify local business visibility, and enhance broader community marketing efforts.

Community Events Strengthen Local Identity

Economic growth is only part of what makes a city successful. Garrett also places real value on the events and traditions that bring residents together.

Among the city’s recurring highlights are a New Year’s Day 5K, summer Heritage Days celebrations, fireworks, live music events, a car show, and seasonal holiday programming that includes a Christmas parade, horse-drawn floats, a free movie, gingerbread house displays, and visits with Santa.

These events are more than entertainment. They reinforce Garrett’s identity as a connected and welcoming community.

They also help residents feel that even as the city grows, it is holding onto the traditions and experiences that make it distinctly Garrett.

Growth with Transparency and Public Input

City leaders understand that growth can bring concerns along with opportunity. That is why Garrett places importance on transparency, communication, and resident access.

Mayor Fiandt describes his office as having an open-door policy, and the city works to share information through newspapers, social media, its website, and a community calendar.

Still, both Fiandt and Bartl acknowledge that public understanding of municipal growth and finance can be a challenge.

“I’ve always said, if you’re not growing, you’re dying,” Bartl says.

That perspective reflects a practical reality. For cities like Garrett, growth is not just desirable—it is necessary to sustain services, strengthen the tax base, and create the conditions for future investment. Communicating that reality to residents is an ongoing part of leadership’s role.

At the same time, Garrett appears committed to making sure growth does not come at the expense of community character. The goal is not unchecked expansion, but thoughtful progress that preserves the city’s core identity.

A Standout Commitment to Workforce Development

One of the most compelling aspects of Garrett’s story is its approach to workforce development.

Through the Garrett-Keyser-Butler Community School District, local students are gaining hands-on exposure to skilled trades and technical career pathways in ways that are drawing wide recognition.

The district’s programs include training connected to road construction, carpentry, welding, and other industrial arts, with students pursuing apprenticeship opportunities directly out of school.

The program has earned major recognition and has become a point of pride for the community.

According to Fiandt, signing days for students entering the trades now receive the kind of attention once reserved mainly for student athletes, complete with media coverage and attendance from state officials.

At a time when many regions are struggling with shortages in the trades, Garrett’s school district is helping create a pipeline of local talent while also showing students that they can build meaningful careers close to home.

That alignment between education, workforce development, and economic growth is a major asset for the city.

Looking Ahead

As Garrett moves through 2026 and into 2027, its priorities are clear.

Infrastructure remains at the top of the list, especially electric capacity and continued road investment. Maintaining and modernizing municipal services is essential not only for current residents but also for future development.

The city also remains focused on supporting housing growth, strengthening downtown, expanding business attraction efforts, and continuing to build on its workforce advantages.

Underneath all of these priorities is a simple but important principle: Garrett wants to be ready.

Ready for new families. Ready for new businesses. Ready for industrial opportunities. Ready for the next generation of residents who want the convenience of location without sacrificing the appeal of a smaller, community-oriented city.

A City with Momentum and a Clear Sense of Self

Garrett may be modest in size, but it is thinking strategically about its future. Its leadership is investing in the systems, spaces, and partnerships needed to support growth while holding onto the character that residents value most.

That combination—location, vision, infrastructure, and community spirit—is what makes Garrett a city to watch.

As northeast Indiana continues to evolve, Garrett is demonstrating that smaller communities can compete successfully, plan intentionally, and grow in ways that benefit both current residents and the generations to come.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Garrett, Indiana

What: A community that is reaching out to partnerships, projects, and strategic positioning to help it grow

Where: Northeast Indiana

Website: www.garrettindiana.us