Local leaders rave over Stellantis investment
Mayor says third investment ‘the charm;’ Wyman says it is a ‘transformational moment’
The announcement that Stellantis and Samsung SDI will invest $2.5 billion locally to construct an electric vehicle battery plant was met with great excitement by local leaders. And Kokomo Mayor Tyler Moore led the cheerleading charge from the podium at the press conference.
“People often say the third time’s the charm,” said Moore. “Early in 2020, I had the opportunity and honor to join the leaders of Stellantis as they announced the investment of $400 million in the engine plant.
“Just last October, we stood together as they announced an investment of $329 million in their three Kokomo area plants. And now here we are again. The sweetest one of all – the charm – to have this investment of $2.5 billion and 1,400 jobs in the Kokomo and Howard County area.
“I’m so honored that Stellantis and Samsung SDI have chosen to make the City of Firsts their first battery plant in the United States. This investment will help solidify the Kokomo area as a leader in automotive manufacturing while creating quality jobs.”
Howard County Commissioner Paul Wyman explained that the decision to invest in Kokomo is a validation of the community, its leaders, and its people.
“This is absolutely a transformational moment for our community,” said Wyman. “The thing that I love about it is that it solidifies our future in the electronic vehicle space. If you take our workforce and quality of life and team it with these two companies, this will impact our community for generations to come.”
Moore also took time to acknowledge the contributions made by Ivy Tech Community College to help realize the investment. The college not only hosted the press conference, its investment in the next wave of technological training will be vital to the future of the companies and the community.
“Coupled with the City of Kokomo and Howard County’s recent investments right here in Ivy Tech’s Industry 4.0 lab, this development will provide the support needed for both Stellantis and Samsung SDI to create and sustain a highly skilled and successful workforce for our collective growth,” said Moore.
For his part, Ivy Tech Kokomo interim chancellor Ethan Heicher was ebullient over the college’s role in the investment.
“This is part of our long history of partnership with the community that is the foundation of Ivy Tech’s approach across the state and locally,” said Heicher. “We couldn’t be happier.”
Indiana Wesleyan University in Kokomo also expressed its support for the investment through Liz Kerns, Director of Venture Development.
“We are thrilled that Kokomo will be home to another ‘first’ in the nation,” said Kerns. “As this growth happens, IWU’s Kokomo Thriving Center will be focused on programs that develop the leadership skills that managers in these contexts need and providing for the wellbeing of the community through coaching and counseling opportunities. We cannot wait to see how this will push our region forward and we will thrive together.
“Personally, this announcement supports what our family already knew. Kokomo is a thriving community that we are proud to be part of, and our three teenage boys are growing up in a region with endless opportunities.”
One question remains in the wake of the announcement: since the new battery plant will take up the entire industrial park that was just announced a few months ago, what will Kokomo and Howard County do to entice the next big investment?
“There is no doubt, with this filling our new industrial park, we will have to create another one,” said Wyman. “But we are going to make sure this is all in place and moving forward before we start on that.”