Darrell Smith, Connersville News-Examiner Reporter
Just prior to leaving Atlanta to drive home Thursday after visiting with Carbon Motors company senior officials, a member of the Connersville delegation reported backed that the meeting was positive.
Dan Zuerner, director of client services Garmong Construction Services/Hannum, Wagle & Cline Engineering, said the talks were "exceptionally productive and forthcoming."
Zuerner is a consultant for the Economic Development Group on special projects.
Mayor Leonard Urban, EDG Executive Director Bryan Coats, Connersville businessman and member of the EDG Board of Directors Bill Long and Zuerner met with the officials Wednesday and Thursday on a fact-finding mission.
The purpose of the trip was to learn more about the needs of the company so local economic development officials can answer the request for proposal in a positive manner, according to outgoing EDG Executive Director Doug Howard.
Zuerner said in a press release that Urban reported the discussions as collaborative, reciprocal and an indication of the terrific partner he believes Carbon Motors will be to not only to the city of Connersville but to the state of Indiana should the local site be chosen for the new facility.
By telephone Thursday afternoon, Zuerner said he did not want to go into more detail for fear of jeopardizing Connersville's chances of landing the project.
He did say the delegation met all its objectives during the trip.
Connersville and Fayette County were named to the company's "short list" of potential sites on Monday. That list also includes sites in Charlotte, N.C., Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C., Brazelton and Pooler, Ga. near Savannah, Ga. and Plymouth, Mich., a Detroit suburb.
The company estimates 1,350 direct jobs at the plant with a potential for 10,000 jobs enhancements at suppliers in the area. Carbon Motors plans to manufacture the first "purpose-built" law enforcement vehicle designed to meet the needs of law enforcement and other agencies.
On the Carbon Motors Web site, a blog has been established where citizens can comment on the assets of their particular community.
"As you are faced with the difficult decision as to where to locate your manufacturing facility I want to assure you, that as a school corporation, we would welcome the opportunity to partner with you and provide support in any way that was feasible," Superintendent of the Fayette County School Corp. Russ Hodges wrote in a post on the blog. "The educational organizations in Connersville, which includes Fayette County School Corp., Indiana University East, Ivy Tech Community College, Whitewater Technical Career Center and the Community Education Coalition, have already partnered to provide educational opportunities form our community. I think our relationship is unique as our partnership has allowed for the development of programs to meet the needs of our community from pre-school through adulthood that would not have been possible without our willingness to work together."
Others wrote that the workforce is ready, willing and knows how to work; that Connersville is in the center of three metropolitan areas - Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio; the community has an airport available for business jets and larger; and has been the center of innovative manufacturing for more than a century.
Company Chairman and CEO William Sanatana Li said Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels had contacted a member of the company's advisory board - former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge - about what it would take to bring the company to Indiana.
"Now I am not sure if the state of Indiana will be our future home, but what I do know is that there is a senior elected official there that is looking out for the citizens of his state and willing to take action," Li said. "Because he is willing to have his staff make the effort, we are willing to reciprocate and meet to discuss opportunities that might be of mutual interest and benefit."
A Connersville delegation is scheduled to meet company officials again Wednesday and Thursday, March 11-12, at the Government Security and U.S. Law Conference and Exposition in Washington, D.C. A meeting with U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., has been scheduled and contacts are being made to meet with the U.S. senators from Indiana.
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