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Duke program helps prepare Calbert Way site for possible economic development
Duke Energy Indiana is assisting local leaders as they prepare a site on Greencastle’s far east side for potential future economic development investments.
The Harrold Farm Site is one of three in Central Indiana that Duke has included in its 2022 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.
The property is situated on approximately 100 acres, just north of the Area 30 Career Center and Ascena Retail Group — the erstwhile IBM building. Located near the intersection of North Calbert Way and South County Road 200 East, the site is served by City of Greencastle municipal water and wastewater, Duke Energy electric and CenterPoint Energy natural gas, with multiple options for broadband. All utilities are available at the southwest corner of the site with a short extension.
Duke officials also noted that rail service could be provided with a city-owned railroad from CSX Transportation in Indianapolis to St. Louis Main Line.
“Duke Energy has always been there to provide programs that help smaller communities such as Putnam County gain that competitive edge to land new jobs and investment,” said Kristin Clary, executive director of the Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center. “We are grateful for the Site Readiness Program and the Duke Energy economic development team for providing us with the knowledge and tools needed to promote our sites to help bring new businesses and industries to our community. And we are grateful for Duke Energy’s willingness to be part of our team to assist us with our business attraction efforts.”
As part of Putnam County’s selection into the program, Duke officials also awarded $10,000 to the Development Center to help attract projects.
The other two sites included this year include the Innovation Mile in Hamilton County and Avon Logistics Center in Hendricks County.
“We’re committed to ensuring our communities have the resources and support they need to thrive – now and well into the future,” said Stan Pinegar, president of Duke Energy Indiana. “Utilities play a critical role as industries weigh whether to relocate to an area or expand their presence. The Duke Energy Site Readiness Program has been a valuable offering and we are proud of the program’s many successes. Through this initiative and many others, we work hand in hand with local and regional partners to bring new jobs and capital investment to the communities we serve.”
Through its Site Readiness Program, Duke Energy identifies high-potential sites and partners with county officials and local economic development professionals to develop a strategy for getting the sites fully ready to market to industrial prospects. In Indiana alone, Duke has helped prepare 41 properties that have won 16 major projects since the program started in 2013, drawing more than 5,500 new jobs and $5.3 billion in capital investment to the state.
The company works with Banning Engineering and Site Selection Group to evaluate sites. Based on consultant recommendations, Duke will collaborate with county leaders and local economic development professionals to develop a strategy for marketing the sites.
After each site’s state of readiness has advanced, Duke Energy’s national business recruitment team strategically markets them nationwide to companies looking to expand or relocate their operations. Duke will award up to $10,000 to each site as part of the process.
For 18 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 $1.2 billion in capital investment in Indiana that supported more than 3,300 jobs for the state in 2021.