Indiana Michigan Power and Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance Announce “Shovel Ready” Site Certification
Muncie, IN — An important site for growth in the Muncie-Delaware County Area has earned a shovel ready Industrial Site Certification. The Industria Centre Site #1, along the Muncie bypass, has completed the certification program for American Electric Power’s (AEP) Quality Site Program.
Sweeny Consulting, one of the world’s leading site selection consulting firms, has conducted an 18-month, thorough analysis of the property.
“A rapidly growing trend in economic development site selection is the requirement that sites be certified, or “shovel ready.” Companies are making location decisions in shorter timeframes, and they want to know that any potential risks with a site have already been mitigated, and the land is well-suited for development. This certification provides us with a competitive advantage, and allows us to compete for projects that require that due diligence be completed prior to a site visit,” said Traci Lutton, Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance.
The Quality Site Program Certification requires engineered site plans, environmental studies, archeological reconnaissance, utility infrastructure and capacity analysis, extensive community data and more. The Certification assures that a property is appropriate for an industrial user, meaning there are no impediments to timely development.
“Serving our communities is a privilege and being a partner in our community’s growth is important, said Rob Cleveland, Director of Economic Development and Community Affairs at Indiana Michigan Power. Having sites ready and equipped to welcome business is crucial to not only being competitive, but to being a leader in bolstering the area.”
The Industria Centre Site #1 is 138.8 acres and is located adjacent to the Industria Centre Industrial Park at Cowan Road and the Muncie Bypass in Delaware County, IN. Utilities are at the site or near the property line, with the exception of sanitary service, which is located 1,950 feet to the west. The site has four-lane access to both Interstate 69 N/S (9 miles) and Interstate 70 E/W (23 miles). The property is located in a well-established Tax Increment Finance district, with an asking price of $19,900 per acre. For more information, contact the Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance.
About the Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance:
The Alliance (EDA) represents a consortium of economic development entities dedicated to the growth and prosperity of Muncie-Delaware County, Indiana. Our purpose is to allocate and leverage economic development resources to sustain and enhance the economic growth, vitality, and global competitiveness of Muncie-Delaware County as a superior business location. Services include site location assistance, retention and expansion of existing businesses, and customized research for business prospects considering Muncie-Delaware County, Indiana.
The EDA is responsible for the implementation of Vision 2016, the community’s current five-year economic development program. This public/private partnership represents the most comprehensive economic development plan in the history of the county. Vision 2016 seeks to create 2,000 primary income jobs with an annual payroll of more than $66 million, and the attraction of $250 million in new capital investment.
The EDA’s administrative entities are Delaware Advancement Corporation and the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. Visit muncie.com for more information.
About AEP – Indiana Michigan Power:
Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its 2,450 employees serve more than 589,000 customers. It operates 2,600 MW of coal-fired generation in Indiana, 2,160 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan and 22 MW of hydro generation in both states. The company also provides its customers 450 MW of purchased wind generation.
American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5.3 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 32,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a 40,000-mile network that includes more 765-kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP’s transmission system directly or indirectly serves about 10 percent of the electricity demand in the Eastern Interconnection, the interconnected transmission system that covers 38 eastern and central U.S. states and eastern Canada, and approximately 11 percent of the electricity demand in ERCOT, the transmission system that covers much of Texas. AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.