Greensburg Readies For Honda Plant Announcement

GREENSBURG, Ind. -- Several sources indicated late Tuesday that a new Honda assembly plant will be located in Greensburg.

A 10:30 news conference is scheduled to make what's called a "major announcement." 6News and TheIndyChannel.com will carry that news conference live.

The Decatur County site is one of several in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin that the automaker considered.

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Greensburg Giddy With Impending Honda Plant

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Gov. Mitch Daniels' office remained tight-lipped Tuesday evening about any impending announcement. Press secretary Jane Jankowski said she had no information to share, 6News' Norman Cox reported.

The $400 million facility and its 1,500 jobs will be a major boon to the economy of the city located squarely between Indianapolis and Cincinnati on Interstate 74.

Residents were giddy with news of the impending announcement.

"It will be better jobs," said Greensburg Mayor Frank Manus. "People will have better homes. It will be great."

Decatur County residents indicated their passion for the plant by dressing up in red and forming a Honda "H" during a rally on June 1. The town also sent hundreds of letters to the automaker urging them to build in Greensburg.

State Rep. Cleo Duncan said an attorney from the firm representing Honda invited her to an announcement Wednesday morning at the city's learning center.

"I believe the effect would be monumental. The opportunities -- just all kinds of doors opening for many people," Duncan said.

Daniels and his economic development team are currently on their way back from a jobs recruitment trip to the Far East. He is also expected to be at the announcement.

Daniels said he purposefully avoided visiting Honda to avoid putting additional pressure on the automaker's executives.

The plant is expected to produce 200,000 vehicles each year. Honda has already taken options on two sites near Greensburg.

Decatur County officials were already scheduled to meet Wednesday to vote on rezoning some of the land.