Duke Energy has selected two properties in Westfield as well as Connersville in Fayette County for inclusion in its 2025 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.
Pinegar
“Our economic development efforts have long been a key component of our work to power the vitality of our customers and communities,” Duke Energy Indiana Stan Pinegar said. “For more than a decade, we have partnered with local economic development organizations through our Site Readiness Program to help them stay competitive and market their sites and communities to prospective companies. It’s been a collaborative effort and instrumental tool to bring major economic development wins to the communities we serve – resulting in job creation, new tax dollars and investment.”
Duke Energy has helped prepare 51 properties in its service territory that have won 30 major projects since the program started in 2013, drawing over 10,000 new jobs and $14.7 billion in capital investment to the state.
Duke Energy works with Banning Engineering and Site Selection Group to evaluate high-potential sites, then partners with local economic development professionals to develop a strategy for getting the sites ready to market to industrial prospects. Duke Energy awards $10,000 to each site to help prepare them to attract projects.
NorthPoint II in Westfield is a greater-than-169-acre property adjacent to the existing NorthPoint Business Park.
“NorthPoint II is an opportunity for companies to establish themselves within one of the region’s fastest-growing communities,” Westfield Economic Development Director Jenell Fairman said. “The state-of-the-art industrial park sits directly east of the U.S. 31 corridor and offers seamless access to I-465. From assisting in site development to aiding in the recruitment of new investment projects, we’re grateful for Duke Energy’s support and collaboration to attract businesses to NorthPoint II and the city of Westfield.”
For nearly two decades, international economic development publication Site Selection has recognized Duke Energy’s economic development work in its annual list of “Top Utilities in Economic Development.” In 2024, Duke Energy’s economic development efforts helped generate $7 billion in capital investment in Indiana that supported more than 2,800 jobs for the state.