Purdue economic development announcement may be tied to USDA agencies
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – Gov. Eric Holcomb will be on the Purdue University campus Wednesday for what the Indiana Economic Development Corp. is calling a “major economic development” announcement.
It could be tied to a recent announcement regarding the location of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Purdue was named a finalist Friday.
Holcomb will be joined by Purdue President Mitch Daniels and other state leaders at the Purdue Airport. A representative from the governor’s office told WLFI the details of Wednesday’s announcement were “confidential at this time.”
Neither Purdue nor the governor’s office were able to confirm the announcement planned for Wednesday had to do with the USDA’s agencies. Purdue, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. and the state are listed as applicants.
Purdue is one of three finalists. Locations in Kansas City and North Carolina are also listed.
According to the USDA website, officials were looking for certain critieria to choose a location, including quality of life, costs, workforce and logistics/IT infrastructure. A subcategory of logistics included airport accessibility. The website also says there were 136 expressions of interest from parties in 35 states.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue visited Purdue’s campus on April 2.
The announcement is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday.