Indiana Approves $20 Million for LEAP Land Purchase
State budget panel backs funding for land tied to Oklo's Project Phoenix medical isotope facility in Lebanon.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Nuclear
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The Indiana State Budget Committee approved $20 million for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation on Nov. 10, voting 4-1 in favor of the request. The IEDC plans to use the funds to buy 185 additional acres in Lebanon's LEAP district for Project Phoenix.
Why it matters
The funding moves forward land acquisition for a medical radioisotope project developed by Oklo, a California-based nuclear technology company, in a region where thousands of LEAP acres remain undeveloped. For Indiana residents, it signals state investment in nuclear-linked industry near Lebanon.
The State Budget Committee voted 4-1 to approve $20 million for the IEDC to acquire 185 acres in the LEAP district. The source does not report the per-acre price or a timeline for completing the purchase.
The players
Oklo
Oklo is a California-based nuclear technology company developing Project Phoenix, a medical radioisotope production project in Lebanon, Indiana. The company also has a partnership with Meta to serve a data center in Ohio.
Indiana Economic Development Corporation
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation is the state agency that sought the $20 million to purchase land in Lebanon's LEAP district. It is the state's primary economic development agency for attracting and supporting business investment.
The details
The IEDC needed state approval to use funds for the land buy, and the committee's vote was limited to that specific request. Project Phoenix is a medical radioisotope production project developed by Oklo, and radioisotope production is distinct from nuclear energy development such as small modular reactors. Before the project proceeds, it must pass through county government, local zoning regulations and community hearings.
Timeline
Nov. 10, 2026: State Budget Committee approves $20 million for the IEDC land purchase.
Nov. 11, 2026: IndyStar publishes an article on the approval.
Big Picture
The approval extends Indiana's LEAP district development by directing state funds toward acquiring 185 more acres for Oklo's Project Phoenix. It follows the district's long-running effort to attract industrial tenants to land where thousands of acres remain undeveloped.
Project Phoenix must still clear county government, local zoning regulations and community hearings before it can proceed in Lebanon. Residents who want to follow or weigh in on the project can expect those local review steps to be the next point of public input.
The takeaway
State funding is a first step, not a finished project: Project Phoenix still has to pass local hearings and zoning review. Readers tracking Indiana's nuclear and industrial plans should watch those county-level decisions.
Further reading
For broader context on nuclear-linked projects, explore Nuclear coverage on Indiana developments.
Live Poll
Should Indiana use taxpayer money to buy land for private nuclear projects?
