Fort Wayne Sees Boom in Car Washes, Candidate Blames Trump Tax Act

Democratic state senate candidate Chloe Andis says the influx of car washes is hurting the local economy.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:11am

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A vibrant, fractured painting of a car wash facility in overlapping geometric shapes and waves of bright, contrasting colors, conceptually representing the rapid growth of the car wash industry in Fort Wayne.A surge of new car washes in Fort Wayne highlights how federal tax policies can reshape local economies in unexpected ways.Fort Wayne Today

Fort Wayne, Indiana has seen a surge in new car wash businesses in recent years, with around 30 car washes now operating within the city limits. Chloe Andis, a Democratic candidate for state senate, says this boom is due to tax incentives in the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that make it easier for businesses to invest in new equipment like car wash facilities. Andis argues this is funneling money away from the community without providing sustainable jobs or investment.

Why it matters

The proliferation of car washes in Fort Wayne highlights how federal tax policies can have unintended consequences on local economies, favoring certain industries over others. Andis is using this issue to campaign on a platform of enacting more community-focused tax incentives if elected to the state senate.

The details

According to Bloomberg News, cities across the U.S. are experiencing a similar trend of car washes cropping up in recent years, driven by the industry's profitable subscription business model and low labor costs. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed under the Trump administration, made it easier for businesses to invest in new equipment like car washes by allowing 100% depreciation deductions. Andis argues this has led 'high income earners' to funnel money into car washes as a 'tax haven' without providing meaningful jobs or community investment.

  • The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was passed under the Trump administration.
  • Chloe Andis is currently running for the Indiana State Senate District 15 seat, which is currently held by Republican Senator Liz Brown.

The players

Chloe Andis

A Democratic candidate for Indiana State Senate District 15, and a U.S. Air Force veteran. Andis is campaigning on a platform of enacting more community-focused tax incentives if elected.

Liz Brown

The current Republican State Senator for Indiana's 15th District, whose seat Andis is running for.

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What they’re saying

“[The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act] included, essentially, a 20% tax break for certain businesses; car washes were included. What we see now is high income earners that were not pulling an income that qualified invested in businesses like storage units, like car washes and are essentially using that to be a tax haven for income that they are able to generate.”

— Chloe Andis, Democratic Candidate for State Senate District 15

“It's funneling money without really giving back to a workforce because a lot of it is automated... you're not providing any investment back into the community.”

— Chloe Andis, Democratic Candidate for State Senate District 15

What’s next

If elected, Andis says she would work to enact similar styles of tax incentives geared towards helping the working class, like cutting childcare expenses, to the 'same degree' Trump's act helped car washes.

The takeaway

This case highlights how federal tax policies can have unintended consequences on local economies, favoring certain industries over others. Andis is using this issue to campaign on a platform of enacting more community-focused tax incentives if elected to the state senate.