Duke Energy helps power site readiness in Bartholomew, Crawford, Dearborn and Hamilton counties in Indiana

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Oct 04, 2017, 14:30 ET

PLAINFIELD, Ind., Oct. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Local economic development officials in four communities in the Duke Energy Indiana service territory are poring over a site consultant's recommendations for making possible business and industry locations look more attractive to site selectors.

The communities and their respective sites were selected earlier this year to participate in Duke Energy's Site Readiness Program, which identifies, evaluates and improves sites in the company's service territory for potential industrial development.

The four locations include:

A 63-acre site located at the northeast corner of U.S. Highway 31 and County Road 800 North near Edinburgh (Bartholomew County)
A 103-acre industrial park with multiple parcels available, located off of Interstate 64 at Exit 92 near Leavenworth (Crawford County)
A 55-acre site located along U.S. Highway 52 and Interstate 74 at 1228 Harrison-Brookville Road, near West Harrison (Dearborn County)
A 45-acre site in Noblesville at 14469 Olio Road near Exit 210 off of Interstate 69 (Hamilton County)

"The competitive process of selecting potential local and regional sites for large business and industry is fierce," said Erin Schneider, director of economic development for Duke Energy Indiana. "We are committed to giving our communities every possible advantage as they work to attract jobs and economic prosperity."

Nationally recognized site consulting firm McCallum Sweeney Consulting has evaluated all four locations and has made customized recommendations to officials in each of the four communities. Banning Engineering of Plainfield is producing conceptual drawings and site plans. The recommendations were presented locally on Oct. 3 and 4.

Following each presentation, local economic development officials received a check for $10,000 from Duke Energy to help implement the recommendations and market the site.

After each site's state of readiness has advanced, Duke Energy's economic and business recruitment teams 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 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 www.locationindiana.com.

Duke Energy Indiana
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.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com.

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Contact: Lew Middleton
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SOURCE Duke Energy