In the bright sunlight, the former DiMartini RV dealership was christened “California style” this morning as the new home of Electric Motors Corp.

Standing beside Tom Roeder, town manager of Wakarusa and Larry Thompson, mayor of Nappanee, Wil Cashen, chief executive officer of EMC, grabbed the green bottle of bubbly and declared, “Let’s break some champagne and have some fun.”

The ceremony was a part of the Nappanee Green Summit being held in the building at the corner of S.R. 19 and Nelson Parkway. The building will house EMC’s engineering offices and serve as a showroom for its vehicles.

To Roeder, who just over a year ago got the news his town’s major employer, Monaco Coach, was leaving, this day represents “the stake in the ground.” It shows EMC is here, working and hiring employees.

“We just feel like it’s definitely going to happen,” Roeder said of EMC plans to manufacture electric-hybrid vehicles in Elkhart County.

Cashen said he plans to unveil EMC’s electric-hybrid pickup truck at another special event scheduled for Labor Day weekend.

Cashen admits some $300 million in federal loans and grants the company has applied for have not come to fruition, yet. But Cashen insists, "You don't start a business based on loans."

Electric Motors Corp. is also negotiating with General Motors, but Cashen would not be specific on what those talks are about, just that the climate in automotive manufacturing has changed due to the economy and the position the Big Three automakers are now in.

Twelve local people have already been hired at the executive level, according to Cashen.