Eastern Indiana update: the region's top business stories.

• Author: Mayer, Kathy
• Position: REGIONAL REPORT EAST

21st century energy. Ethanol plants, a wind farm, hybrid production, an agribusiness and energy park and more are putting Eastern Indiana in the forefront of 21st century fuel and transportation developments.

In Middletown, e-biofuels broke ground last fall and plans to begin producing bio-diesel this summer. The 10 million-gallon-capacity plant will employ 15, reports Bryan Coats, president and CEO of New Castle/Henry County Economic Development Corp.

In Winchester, Cardinal Ethanol has begun constructing a $150 million ethanol plant that will employ 45 and produce 100 million gallons annually when it opens in fall 2008, says Greg Beumer, Randolph Economic Development Corp. executive director.

Randolph County is also being evaluated for a possible wind farm to be operated by Indiana and Michigan Power. Monitoring towers go in this spring. "If data collected verifies wind resources, the company intends to build a $170 million turbine wind farm that would employ about eight," Beumer says.

Also in Randolph County, PCI Inc. in Union City has announced a joint venture with Azure Dynamics of Canada to convert medium-sided truck and shuttle bus chassis to hybrid technology. PCI currently employs 77; the new work could create 100 new jobs in the next two years.

In Connersville, Mayor Max Ellison reports that a $500 million agribusiness and energy park that would employ up to 1,000 is likely to soon move from the drawing board with the announcement of the company name pending. "They have already optioned 700 acres and hope to move dirt early this spring," he says.

While Rush Renewable Energy LLC hoped to break ground last year on an $82 million ethanol plant in Rushville that will employ 36, financing has delayed the project, says Greg Griffin, Rush County Economic & Community Development Corp. executive director. "It's still a go, we have a commitment, the property has been purchased, but no dirt moving is happening yet. We hope to see that this spring."

Newcomers. Two food companies are coming the region.

Dot Foods Inc. chose the Indiana Gateway Industrial Park in Cambridge City for its new $18 million food distribution facility that will employ 250. Construction is under way, with an early fall opening planned, says Renee Dory, manager of community development, Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County The company distributes 60,000 dry, refrigerated and frozen food products from 600 manufacturers.

In New Castle, Schwan's--which sells frozen...