Duke Energy : Indiana boosts economic development efforts in Bloomington and Terre Haute June 23, 2016

• Sites are in line to receive $10,000 each in grant funds

PLAINFIELD, Ind. - Duke Energy Indiana has chosen sites in Bloomington and Terre Haute for its 2016 Site Readiness Program. The sites were selected based on their potential to bring large businesses and industries to their respective areas.

They include:

• A 53-acre parcel in Bloomington located at 3300 Bunger Road, with close proximity to the Monroe County airport and Interstate 69
• A 49-acre parcel at the Terre Haute International Airport

'We want to facilitate economic development that brings jobs and increased prosperity to the communities we serve,' said Erin Schneider, director of economic development for Duke Energy Indiana. 'We anticipate working hand-in-hand with our long-time economic development partners to bring added value to these two communities.'

Site consulting firm McCallum Sweeney Consulting will evaluate the two sites, while Banning Engineering will produce conceptual drawings and site plans.

Based on consultant recommendations, Duke Energy will collaborate with county leaders and local economic development professionals to develop a strategy for providing water, sewer, natural gas, telecommunications and electricity to the sites.

The parties may also recommend road improvements, easements and rights-of-way that will be required to develop the sites, as well as steps necessary to mitigate any potential environmental impacts.

Duke Energy will present its findings - including a detailed report and conceptual drawings - to city and county officials when the studies are completed. Economic development organizations in each county will also receive a check for $10,000 to help implement the recommendations.

After each site's state of readiness has advanced, Duke Energy's business development team will strategically market them nationwide to companies looking to expand or relocate their operations.

Ideal properties for Duke Energy's Site Readiness Program are typically 40 acres or larger, served by the utility, or a vacant industrial building at least 20,000 square feet identified to support renewed industrial growth and sustainable development in a community.

Duke Energy Indiana's overall economic development program has also been consistently named by Site Selection magazine as one of the nation's 'Top 10 Utility Economic Development Programs.' Since 2008, the company has participated in the creation of nearly 20,000 jobs and total capital investment of approximately $4.5 billion.

For more information about Duke Energy Indiana's economic development programs, visit www.locationindiana.com.

Duke Energy Indiana

Duke Energy Indiana's operations provide about 7,100 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 810,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it the state's largest electric supplier.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is an S&P 100 Stock Index company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com.

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