Indiana joins Boeing sweepstakes

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says his state will compete for a Boeing manufacturing and assembly facility tied to the Chicago aerospace company’s 777X airplane.

Boeing is expected to decide on a site early next year. Fifteen states are competing for the $10 billion facility that could employ up to 8,500 workers by 2024.

“Every opportunity that we are given to tell Indiana’s story and make the case for Indiana — we do,” Pence told The Times of Munster.

State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said Northwest Indiana meets all the road, rail, port and airport connections Boeing is seeking.

Other states seeking to land the project include Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Washington state, Alabama, California, Pennsylvania and Kansas.