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AEP Makes Site Selection Top 10 For Economic Development Efforts

economicdevelopment-2

Cornerstone Alliance President Rob Cleveland probably has a more unique observation post than anyone else following news this morning that Site Selection Magazine has named American Electric Power  one of the nation’s top 10 utilities for economic development. Cleveland has been in major roles on both sides of that equation.

This marks the sixth consecutive year AEP has been recognized by the magazine in that light, and inasmuch as Mr. Cleveland himself was responsible for economic development issues for the utility’s Indiana Michigan Power Company unit up until his selection as the President of Cornerstone Alliance, he can directly relate either way.

Site Selection’s September issue profiles AEP, which was chosen based on its efforts to cultivate commercial and industrial business development and create jobs. Factors the magazine considered include end-user project activity; website tools and data; innovative programs and incentives for business; and the utility’s own job-creating infrastructure and facility investment trends.

Mark James, who serves as Vice President of Economic & Business Development for AEP says, “This recognition underscores AEP’s vision of powering a new and brighter future for our customers and communities.”

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Rob Cleveland says, “I’m pleased to see AEP economic development awarded again for their outstanding work. The fact that they have been recognized for six years in a row speaks to the system that Mark James has put in place along with the quality of economic development practitioners they have across their seven operating companies and 11 states.”

In addressing AEP’s work in that arena, James says, “The collaborative efforts of AEP with our local, state and regional economic development partners have been key to successfully creating value for our customers, and driving jobs and investments to our 11-state region.”

In 2016, AEP’s economic and business development team helped attract and retain more than 7,200 direct jobs and $2.6 billion in capital investments.

Cornerstone’s Cleveland says, “AEP strives to be the best utility partner in the economic development process for their communities, and in my opinion, they meet that mark.” He adds, “They are willing to support us in our efforts to bring new companies, jobs and investment to our community. They do that by supporting our general operating activities as well as specific projects that bring benefit to our community, as well as their customers.” Cornerstone Alliance is Berrien County’s lead economic development agency.

One of AEP’s most notable economic development projects last year was Sofidel’s $300-million paper plant in Circleville, Ohio, which required the relocation of a transmission line. AEP’s proactive efforts also helped Ashland, Kentucky, land one of its biggest economic development projects in recent years. Braidy Industry’s $1.3 billion aluminum rolling mill will bring 550 jobs to the area. AEP also has recently contributed to Amazon and Facebook’s decisions to locate data centers in Central Ohio, as well as ExxonMobil’s decision, in partnership with SABIC, to locate an ethane steam cracker in South Texas.

As Cleveland says, “This recognition is well-deserved, and we are so grateful for their support.”

American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to their customers. AEP’s more than 17,000 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 224,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.4 million regulated customers in 11 states.

AEP also is one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 33,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including 4,200 megawatts of renewable energy. AEP’s family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP also owns AEP Energy, AEP Energy Partners, AEP OnSite Partners, and AEP Renewables, which provide innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide.