Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Wednesday, May 16, 2018
(PLAINFIELD) - Duke Energy’s economic development consultants have selected six Indiana locations to participate in the company’s 2018 Site Readiness Program.
The locations include:
The Site Readiness Program identifies, evaluates and improves sites in the company's service territory for potential industrial development.
"Duke Energy is honored to select these communities for participation in the 2018 Site Readiness Program," said Erin Schneider, director of economic development for Duke Energy Indiana. "We are eager to contribute resources to help promote economic development, jobs and quality of life for these regions."
A national site consulting firm will evaluate five of the six sites, while Banning Engineering will produce conceptual drawings and site plans.
The Franklin County site will participate in a first-time Site Readiness Light Program, which includes the same treatment as the other five sites, but without the evaluation from McCallum Sweeney Consulting. This will then qualify the site to participate in the full Site Readiness Program as early as next year.
Duke Energy will present its findings for each site - including a detailed report and conceptual drawings - to city and county officials when the studies are completed later this year. Economic development organizations in each location will also receive a check for $10,000 from Duke Energy to help implement the recommendations.
After each site's state of readiness has advanced, Duke Energy's business development team will strategically market those sites nationwide to companies looking to expand or relocate their operations.
Ideal properties for Duke Energy's Site Readiness Program are typically 40 acres or larger, served by the utility, or a vacant industrial building of at least 20,000 square feet identified to support renewed industrial growth and sustainable development in a community.
Duke Energy Indiana's overall economic development program has been consistently named by Site Selection magazine as one of the nation's "Top 10 Utility Economic Development Programs." Since 2008, the company has participated in the creation of nearly 20,000 jobs with a total capital investment of approximately $4.5 billion.
For more information about Duke Energy Indiana's economic development programs, visit locationindiana.com.
About Duke Energy
Duke Energy Indiana's operations provide about 6,800 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 820,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it the state's largest electric supplier.
The Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for journalists and features news releases, helpful links, photos and videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an online destination for stories about people, innovations, and community and environmental topics. It also offers glimpses into the past and insights into the future of energy.
Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.