County Council must revote on proposal for potential EV Battery Plant

SAINT JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- A bill on the table for the Saint Joseph County Council would open the possibility of General Motors and its new partner Samsung to build an Electric Vehicle Battery Plant in the southeast corner of New Carlisle, off State Road 2 and Larrison Boulevard. 

“It’s one of the most significant possibilities that has happened in this county since I can remember,” says County Council Member, Rafael Morton.  

The council originally voted on the tax abatement almost a year ago when General Motors and Ultium Cells were originally eyeing the land. 

Since Ultium Cells dropped out and Samsung has replaced it as a partner, the council essentially has to do the process over again. 

“We voted on a tax abatement, but there again the changes now is because of the new proposal with a different tax abatement and a new partnership,” Morton explains. 

Morton says regardless of the new proposal, the project is still something he’d love to see come to Saint Joe County along with the economic boost it would bring the local economy. 

“The enormous economic impact for this community, the number of jobs, is going to be something that we haven’t seen in a very long time, if at all in this community,” Morton says. “I hope we are awarded this opportunity.”  

The County Council will make that vote on the proposed tax abatement changes in a special meeting on May 23rd.