Muncie, IN – Roy Budd, Executive Director of Energize-ECI, Inc., nine-county regional economic development partnership serving East Central Indiana, announced that the $350 million Carbon Motors project in Connersville, IN was named one of the “Top 10 Deals of 2009” in the world by Site Selection magazine, published by the Industrial Asset Management Council. Connersville (Fayette County) beat out finalist sites from Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Michigan. Carbon Motors management considered over 400 factors in its decision-making process. The city, economic development officials and residents of Connersville developed a grassroots, community-based plan for attracting the new manufacturer of specialty police vehicles, the Carbon E7, powered by a BMW diesel engine. Carbon Motors occupies a formerly shuttered 1.8 million square foot Visteon site, with plans to create more than 1,500 jobs. The company is currently awaiting review of its $310 million loan application from the Department of Energy.

Roy Budd stated “The Carbon Motors project is a prime example of regional, state and local economic development collaboration at its best. Having the Carbon Motors project being ranked in the “Top 10 Best Deals” in the world by one of the leading trade journals is a feather in the caps of all Energize-ECI, Inc. counties and the State of Indiana. Our region offers many competitive advantages to business prospects and existing companies.”

Other domestic and international economic development projects making the Site Selection “2009 Top 10 Deals,” included: Boeing Co. - South Carolina; Cubic Integrated Group - China; Hybrid Kinetic Motors - Alabama and China; IBM - Dubuque, Iowa; Nissan - Tennessee and United Kingdom; Novartis - China; Siemens - Turkey; Vale - Brazil and Oman; Extreme Power/Clairvoyant Energy - Michigan. The website for Site Selection magazine is www.siteselection.com.

About Energize-ECI, Inc.

Established in 2005, Energize-ECI, inc. develops a mission of globally marketing the nine-county East Central Indiana region by teaming with local economic development organizations (LEDOs) in Blackford, Delaware, Fayette, Grant, Henry, Jay, Madison, Randolph and Rush counties to bring new jobs and commercial investment to the area. For more information about Energize-ECI, Inc., visit www.energize-eci.org. They may be contacted at P.O. Box 1912, Muncie, IN 47308-1912; phone 765.254.1420; fax 765.254.1450; or by email to info@energize-eci.org. Energize-ECI’s “Regional-Report” news-magazine and news releases summarizing the many recent economic development successes of East Central Indiana may be viewed at the organization’s website.

Contacts
Tom Farris - 765-254-0116
tfarris@energize-eci.org

Roy Budd - 765-254-1420
rbudd@energize-eci.org

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Prepared by:
Tom Farris
P.O. Box 1912
Muncie, IN 47308-1912

765.254.0116 Phone
765.254.1450 Fax
tfarris@energize-eci.org