Connersville eager for Carbon Motors to rev up

More than two years after a key city employer closed, Connersville is still on the ropes.

Unemployment is at
13.8 percent, sending more people in search of help to feed their families. Retirees are worried about losing their health
insurance and pension cuts. Jobless benefits are running out.

"I know our people are hurting. People are still
losing their homes. I get very discouraged sometimes," said Mayor Leonard Urban.

But this eastern Indiana
factory town says better days are coming, driven by the eagerly awaited arrival of Carbon Motors.

The company is
awaiting approval of a $310 million federal loan so it can begin production of an energy-efficient police car. Work —
and hiring — is expected to begin in 2012.

But the company is already getting ready, planning a job fair
this spring to help residents polish resumes and have a pool of applicants ready to go when it’s time to fill the 1,550 jobs
the company expects to create.

Carbon spokesman Stacy Dean Stephens says the company is writing job descriptions
now and the qualifications will vary. But he cautioned that the jobs might not be a good fit for everyone.

"If
you are one of those looking for an 8-5 job, there’s probably no need to apply," Stephens said. "We’re looking for
people with the same drive and passion we have, people who see how important this vehicle is to law enforcement and the globe.
That’s the key to coming to work for Carbon Motors."

Regardless, the jobs can’t come soon enough for Connersville.

The closing of Visteon’s automotive components plant followed other factory shutdowns. Many residents are in dire
need, city leaders say.

The Community Sharing Foundation’s food pantry sees 60 to 100 people a week who need food,
said Betty Barbee, foundation secretary.

"We’ve been seeing more customers ever since Visteon closed,"
Barbee said. "About the only month when the need dropped was (December) because it was Christmas and lots of groups were
doing things for people."

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration says the number of food stamp
recipients in Fayette County rose to 2,128 households with 5,143 people in December 2009. That was 600 more households and
1,430 more people than in December 2007.

Urban, who spent most of the past year trying to find an employer to fill
the void left by Visteon, said he hopes more jobs are in the works. The city is talking with some companies who want to locate
in Connersville when Carbon Motors gets started, Urban said.

Despite the community’s angst, he said there already
are signs of hope.

"These are trying times, but at the same time, our stores are busy on Fridays. Our gym
is full for basketball games," Urban said. "I am amazed at the resilience and tenacity of our people."