CONNERSVILLE, Ind. -- Representatives of Carbon Motors said they were impressed with the effort and desire Connersville officials and residents exhibited as they visited to consider bringing 1,300 jobs to the depressed community.

Executives visited the southeastern Indiana city Tuesday to consider its pitch to build state-of-the-art police cruisers there, 6News' Ericka Flye reported.

"It'd be terrific for the area and the economy, really," said resident Tom Seffrin.

A large crowd anxiously awaited the unveiling of a new police car that Carbon Motors will build. It's not a common cruiser.

The E7 police interceptor is fuel-efficient and fast, built specifically for law enforcement, with contoured seats to fit an officer's gun belt, built-in lights and computers.

"It's about time that somebody listened to the officers and took their input on how to set it up," said Connersville police Sgt. Rick Wilcox.

Connersville has a virtually ready-made facility that could house Carbon Motors -- the old Visteon plant that left hundreds jobless when the company left in 2007.

"We've got about 400 items that we're looking at, and the workforce is one of them," said William Santana Li, CEO of Carbon Motors. "The location, climate, is there a building or not -- everything weighs into our decision-making criteria."

The city rolled out a welcome mat for top executives in a creative way -- firing up at the fire station, sending up prayers at a church and directly asking Carbon Motors to bring it so they can build it.

"That was a very nice touch," Li said.

Connersville is desperate for new industry after having had one of the highest unemployment rates for more than seven years.

"These people are really wanting to go to work. They want something new," said Mayor Leonard Urban. "They want a new spirit, and I think the spirit is as much as the work and the jobs."

Carbon Motors would bring about 1,300 jobs to the community, but Connersville is competing against five other cities, many of them just as eager.

Officials said they hope a decision will be made by mid-June.