Indiana Michigan Power has selected a site in Benton Harbor for inclusion in a new regional economic development effort aimed at attracting industrial investment.

The Lake Michigan Industrial Park in Benton Harbor is one of five locations across Indiana and Michigan chosen for I&M’s new Future Ready Sites Accelerator program. The initiative is designed to prepare land and existing buildings for potential manufacturers and large employers by identifying infrastructure needs and speeding up the site selection process. The program launched in December of 2025 and is being carried out in partnership with InSite Consulting, a national firm specializing in industrial site evaluations.

Through the program, selected sites will receive in-depth analysis, visits, and one-on-one coaching to determine their readiness for development and what improvements may be needed to attract investors. I&M says the goal is to increase the number of shovel-ready locations that can compete for major projects at the national level, bringing new jobs and expanding the tax base.

The Benton Harbor site will undergo a forensic review by InSite, which will assess infrastructure, environmental factors, and development barriers.