PLAINFIELD, Ind. – Duke Energy recently selected two properties in Jennings and Tippecanoe counties for inclusion in its 2023 Site Readiness Program, which prepares high-potential business and industrial sites for economic development investments and markets them nationwide to companies looking to expand or relocate their operations.
In Indiana alone, Duke Energy has helped prepare 45 properties that have won 21 major projects since the program started in 2013, drawing more than 6,000 new jobs and $5.78 billion in capital investment to the state.
Duke Energy works with Banning Engineering and Site Selection Group to identify high-potential sites, then partners with county officials and local economic development professionals to develop a strategy for getting the sites ready to market to industrial prospects. The utility company’s national business recruitment team then strategically markets them nationwide to companies looking to expand or relocate their operations. Duke Energy will award up to $10,000 to each site to help prepare them to attract projects.
The 2023 Site Readiness Program locations include:
- North Vernon Industrial Commerce Park (Jennings County)
- Purdue Research Park, Phases 3 & 4 (Tippecanoe County)
North Vernon Industrial Commerce Park offers over 49 acres of land conveniently located on State Road 3, next to GT Industries and within a 65-mile drive to Indianapolis, Louisville, and Cincinnati.
“We are very excited about the opportunity to work with Duke Energy on our newest industrial park,” said Kathy Ertel, executive director of the Jennings County Economic Development Commission. “Duke Energy has been a constant and committed partner in Jennings County and North Vernon and we look forward to having this site fully market-ready very soon.”
For 19 consecutive years, Duke Energy’s economic development efforts have been recognized by Site Selection magazine in the publication’s annual list of “Top Utilities in Economic Development.” Including the Site Readiness Program, Duke Energy helped attract a total of $5.7 billion in capital investment in Indiana that supported more than 4,400 jobs for the state in 2022.
