Cummins engine plant appears headed to Columbus

A proposed Cummins Inc. engine plant that would employee 600 people appears headed for Columbus.

An announcement is planned for 10 a.m. Wednesday at the former Columbus Engine Plant with Gov. Mitch Daniels, Cummins executives and state and local officials "for an economic development announcement," according to the governor's schedule.

The site is a former heavy diesel plant that was closed several years ago, according to The Indianapolis Star.

Earlier this summer, Cummins said it was in the process of looking for a plant to build a new high-performance, light-duty diesel engine for pickup trucks and SUVs.

Cummins already produces diesel engines for the Dodge 2500 and 3500, and Chrysler appeared to be the unnamed major manufacturer the company was dealing with on the new engine.

Several indicators seemed to suggest Kokomo as a possible site for the new plant, which would allow the engine to be paired with transmissions and then shipped out to assembly plants.

Local economic development officials weren't willing to discuss the Cummins announcement.

"I'm not familiar with the announcement they're going to have tomorrow," Greg Aaron, president of Kokomo Howard County Development Corp., said Tuesday.

"All of the projects we work on, it's not good to talk about them until they're signed."