Oct. 14--How much of an incentive package Pennsylvania plans to eventually offer Harley-Davidson in an effort to keep the company's operations in Springettsbury Township depends on manufacturer's plans for job creation and retention.

Gov. Ed Rendell said Tuesday that the state and the company are in negotiations about the incentive package anticipated to be between $15 million to $20 million.

Efforts to reach Bob Klein, a spokesman for Harley-Davidson, were unsuccessful Tuesday.

In August, at a rally held to support the company's local operations, Rendell said the state was prepared to allocate $15 million to help modernize the plant.

Currently, Harley is evaluating sites in Shelbyville, Ind., Shelbyville, Ky. and Murfreesboro, Tenn. as possible locations in which to shift its local operations.

Last week, the company and union officials agreed on a "viable" restructuring plan that could work to keep the plant and its more than 2,000 workers in Springettsbury Township.

Before Rendell would ink any deal to hand over millions in incentives, the state needs to know how many jobs the company will retain through its restructuring plan.

"The company hasn't given that to us yet," he said.

Regardless of the package's exact amount, the deal remains competitive with those offered by Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee,

Rendell said.

The financial deals on the table from the other states are in roughly the same range as the package offered by Pennsylvania, he said.

"We will be competitive," Rendell said. "I promised the workforce that. We think that the ability to retain Harley is substantial."

More news: Harley sales and earnings report to be released Thursday.

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