A Colorado-based solar panel manufacturer will get federal help to take over the empty Getrag plant on U.S. 31 near Kokomo,
creating as many as 850 jobs in the next three years and establishing what it says will be the largest such facility in the
United States.
Abound Solar Inc. will get help from a $400 million federal loan guarantee to open the Tipton County facility and expand
an existing plant in Colorado. President Barack Obama announced nearly $2 billion in federal economic stimulus funding for
two solar energy firms on Saturday, touting thousands of new jobs and increased use of renewable energyy. Abound Solar and
Abengoa Solar, which is building a massive plant in Arizona, are the beneficiaries.
Abound Solar also is eligible for a total of more than $12 million in performance-based tax credits and training grants from
the Indiana Economic Development Corp. Tipton County leaders in May approved another $13 million in incentives to help lure the then-identified
company.
The plant, where transmissions were to be built, has stood empty since 2008. Getrag Manufacturing LLC filed for bankruptcy
and halted work on the plant after the company's partnership with Chrysler LLC collapsed. The facility has never been
used.
A federal bankruptcy court in Detroit turned the facility over to a trustee group consisting of contractors still owed money
on the project.
Abound Solar plans to invest more than $500 million in machinery, equipment and building improvements in Tipton County, the
IEDC said Saturday. After renovations begin, the company plans to hire engineers, technicians and production associates.
IEDC said it worked with county leaders, federal lawmakers, state officials and the U.S. Department of Energy to help the
company seal the deal.
"State and local representatives from Indiana were particularly instrumental in our efforts to finalize plans for this
state-of-the-art facility and create high-paying jobs for Hoosier workers," Abound executive Steve Abely said in a prepared
statement. "We are excited about the opportunity to make America a global driver of renewable, affordable and abundant
solar energy."

















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