Duke Energy completes Site Readiness Program for Deltona Commerce Park

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., June 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy has completed the evaluation of the Deltona Commerce Park through the company's Site Readiness Program.

During a recent public meeting with the Deltona City Commission Workshop, Volusia County officials and other community leaders, Duke Energy provided a detailed report about the site's viability and recommendations for improvement.

"The conclusion of the Site Readiness Program is just the beginning of our commitment to the area," said Alex Glenn, Duke Energy state president - Florida. "Duke Energy is committed to the City of Deltona and Volusia County for the long term. In addition to serving the site, we will continue our work to attract new industry and jobs to the area."

The 263-acre Deltona Commerce Park is the second Florida site in the Duke Energy Site Readiness Program, which helps advance prime sites for further development opportunities.

Over the past 5 months, Duke Energy in conjunction with Team Volusia EDC arranged for McCallum Sweeney Consulting, a nationally recognized site selection consultant, to conduct an initial site assessment beginning with an in-depth meeting and tour with local economic development officials. A separate engineering firm, HRP Associates, completed a buildable study and conceptual plan.  

"The presentation and proposed plan by Duke Energy and McCallum Sweeney Consulting was a valuable asset in our planning for the area," said City of Deltona Mayor, John Masiarczyk. "The program is a true testament to our partnership with Duke Energy as we move Deltona forward with economic development."

The detailed report recently presented to local officials included a technical review outlining strengths, weaknesses and recommendations for next steps. "The Deltona Commerce Park is one of the few remaining high, dry, large developable parcels in Florida with interstate frontage," remarked Mark Sweeney, principal of McCallum Sweeney Consulting.

The report also included a marketing evaluation and recommendations for target industries. Among them were advanced materials, aerospace, plastics, logistics/distribution and general machinery.

"The McCallum-Sweeney site readiness evaluation confirmed the City's belief that this commerce park area is an extremely viable location for business, commerce, and industry," said Jerry Mayes, Director of Economic Development for the City of Deltona. "The City has taken the consultants' recommendations seriously, and we are already having meetings and communications with the three owners." 

"The completion of the McCallum Sweeney site assessment has been a crucial step in helping the community learn how to best market and use the Deltona Commerce Park," remarked Keith Norden, Team Volusia president and CEO. "Team Volusia is pleased that Duke Energy chose the Deltona site, which in-turn placed Volusia County on the radar of one of the highest caliber consulting groups in the nation."

For more information on Volusia County Economic Development, visit www.teamvolusiaedc.com.

For more information about the City of Deltona, visit www.ci.deltona.fl.us.

Duke Energy Florida 
Duke Energy Florida owns coal-fired and natural gas generation providing about 9,000 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 1.7 million customers in a 20,000-square-mile service area.

With its Florida regional headquarters located in St. Petersburg, Fla., Duke Energy is the largest electric power holding company in the United States with approximately $115 billion in total assets. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 7.2 million electric customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. Its commercial power and international energy business segments own and operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets in the United States.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at: www.duke-energy.com.

Contact: Kristin Perry 
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

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SOURCE Duke Energy