Site readiness projects in Indiana gain valuable information and insight from consultant's recommendations

PLAINFIELD, Ind., Aug. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Economic development officials in five Indiana counties have been presented recommendations from nationally recognized site consultant Strategic Development Group (SDG) as part of Duke Energy's 2018 Site Readiness Program.

Banning Engineering of Plainfield has produced a desktop review, conceptual drawings and a marketing fact sheet for the sites.

The recommendations are designed to help each group maximize their economic development efforts. Along with the site consultant's recommendations, Duke Energy has awarded a $10,000 grant to each organization to help implement the recommendations.

The locations include:

• A 66-acre site near Creek Way and 106th Street in Zionsville (Boone County)
• An 80-acre site along State Road 1 in Brookville (Franklin County) near the Interstate 74 interchange at St. Leon
• A 200-acre site at the Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport in Fishers (Hamilton County)
• A 143-acre site along East County Road 400 South near the interchange of State Road 3 and Interstate 70 (Henry County)
• A 500-acre site inside the Vermillion Rise Mega Park (Vermillion County)

The Site Readiness Program identifies, evaluates and improves sites in the company's service territory for potential industrial development.

"Duke Energy is excited to work with these economic development groups as they move forward to implement the consultant's recommendations," said Erin Schneider, director of economic development for Duke Energy Indiana. "We know from experience that our Site Readiness Program is a valuable tool to help these organizations attract jobs and capital investment."

"Strategic Development Group is pleased to work with Duke Energy Indiana on the 2018 Site Readiness Program," said Jeannette T. Goldsmith, vice president of SDG. "We look forward to expanding and enhancing this important program with our knowledge of important industry trends and site selection expertise."

The Franklin County site is participating in a first-time Site Readiness Light Program, which focuses on an engineering-based analysis, rather than a national site consultant evaluation, and provides recommendations for sites in the early stages of industrial development. That site may then qualify to participate in the full Site Readiness Program as early as next year.

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 more than 26,000 jobs with a total capital investment of approximately $5.9 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.

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Contact: Lew Middleton
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SOURCE Duke Energy

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