Indiana Economic Development Corporation

06/01/2026

White County is building a foundation for future generations to thrive.

IEDC's Tony Denhart and Brady Markel recently attended the 2026 White County Economic Development Annual Meeting, bringing together local business leaders, state officials and community stakeholders.

Regional leaders outlined the county's strategic plans to boost community engagement and accelerate economic growth.

The highlight of the event featured four students representing Frontier, North White, Tri-County and Twin Lakes high schools. The students shared inspiring answers to the question “Why White County?” — emphasizing the vital role of mentorship, work-based learning and growing locally available career pathways.

Proud to see Indiana regions continue to invest in regional talent development, creating opportunities for the next generation of Hoosiers.

05/29/2026

As part of his efforts to keep our state's economy strong and connected, last week Indiana Governor Mike Braun, along with Regional Director Mary Martin and IEDC's Stephanie Kabel visited Indiana businesses and attended regional events.

🍪The governor first met with local farmers, business owners and community leaders at Fingerhut Bakery, a fixture in Starke County for decades, to discuss issues and opportunities facing rural Indiana.

🛣️The next day Governor Braun spoke at the 2026 RV Industry Power Breakfast, where 1,400 people learned about economic updates, RV sales, tourism and tariffs from well-known speakers, RV manufacturers and suppliers.

🏭Governor Braun then toured Aluminum Insights, a Syracuse business founded in 2020, now in the midst of a multi-million-dollar expansion to keep up with demand. After adding 45,000 square feet of space, the company is now working on installing $5 million in equipment to increase capacity with support from IEDC's READI program.

Indiana is invested in the success of our regions and businesses. Through consistent visits and discussions we stay connected and work side by side to deliver the support they need to grow.

05/28/2026

In the spirit of strengthening partnerships with local Hoosier businesses, Director of Business Expansion and Retention Stephanie Kabel recently met with company leaders in the South Bend-Elkhart and Northwest Indiana regions.

Her tour included stops at:

📍Welch Packaging (Elkhart, IN) - A family-owned network of custom corrugated box manufacturers, focused on supporting quick-turnaround packing solutions for other businesses.

📍ThermoDyne (Elkhart, IN) - Designer and manufacturer of high-performance microporous insulation and rugged black box data recorders for the rail industry and defense applications.

📍ITR America (Lake County, IN) - Providing dealers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) with reliable, high-quality replacement parts for construction, mining, forestry and roadbuilding equipment.

📍Safety-Kleen (East Chicago, IN) - The largest re-refiner of used oil in North America, providing environmentally responsible products/services to help businesses process materials properly.

Thanks to each of our partners for their hospitality.

*Safety-Kleen is a subsidiary of Clean Harbors

05/21/2026

🚨Reminder: Governor Braun invites Hoosier businesses to apply for the 2026 Governor's Century, Half Century Business Awards.

The State of Indiana is accepting nominations to honor Hoosier businesses that have remained in operations for at least 100 or 50 years with a commitment to serving the community.

📅 Applications due by May 30, 2026
✅ Business Criteria & Link to Apply: 👉 https://iedc.in.gov/program/century-and-half-century-awards/apply -header

“Indiana’s legacy businesses are a testament to the commitment, work ethic and resilience of Hoosiers,” said Gov. Braun. “From small and medium-sized businesses to large corporations, Indiana companies operating for more than 50 or 100 years have made a profound impact on our economy and our people."

The winners will be honored at a ceremony at the Indiana Statehouse later this year. Governor Braun is excited to celebrate the achievements and impact of these businesses while continuing to provide a pro-growth environment to support their future.

05/20/2026

IEDC Workforce and Talent leaders Tony Denhart and Kim Brant hosted more than a dozen of our valued partners for networking and valuable discussions on “Fast Friday” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After a morning rain delay, the group enjoyed live practice for the 110th Indianapolis 500 and the ultimate racing stories from IEDC Motorsports Director Rollie Helmling. Thanks for a great day at the track, IMS!

05/20/2026

Last week in Fort Wayne, the IEDC and Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ) co-hosted the first event in this year's Innovate Indiana series, celebrating Northeast Indiana's regional impact and exploring the community's innovative strategies.

As an economic development initiative, the series brings community and business leaders together to discuss how regions are driving progress and bridging the gap between rural anchors and global industries.

At the May 15 event, Governor Braun spoke in a fireside chat with IBJ Media's Nate Feltman, followed by a panel discussion with Gerry Dick.

"Indiana being bold is not just a slogan, but a reality," said Ivan Tornos, President and CEO of Zimmer Biomet, a global medical technology company headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana.

Bold moves and significant results have defined Northeast Indiana, with 2,200 new jobs announced, $163 million in new payroll created, and more than $363 million in capital investment committed there within the past year.

Things are just getting started for the region, as more projects are in the pipeline to reshape Fort Wayne and its surrounding communities. Cities and towns are focused on improving the quality of place for Hoosiers, with the help of a $95 million READI investment in housing, workforce training, arts facilities and downtown development.

💡The Innovate Indiana series will continue exploring how our regions are building a better tomorrow, with the next event scheduled for June 9 in Evansville.

See Northeast Indiana's regional report and video: https://www.ibj.com/2026-iedc-regional-reports

05/19/2026

IEDC President Josh Richardson recently attended the Terre Haute Economic Development Corporation 2026 Annual Membership Meeting.

The event brought together local business leaders, elected officials, community partners and regional stakeholders to discuss future development and reflected a shift in focus toward building partnerships, aligning regions and renewing urgency around growth.

"Vigo County, as a key member of the Wabash River region, is showing a strong commitment to regional collaboration, long-term planning and creating an environment where businesses and talent can thrive. That kind of alignment positions communities to compete more effectively for meaningful investment," Richardson said.

During the meeting, the 2026-2027 leadership slate, as well as executive committee member and associate member appointments were approved, representing key community and regional partners sharing a unified vision.

Terre Haute's commitment to building long-term partnerships and developing a clear, aligned strategy position the community for new opportunities to prosper.

05/19/2026

This month, we celebrated Small Business Week in Indiana. Help us keep that celebration going all year round by nominating a Hoosier entrepreneur or small business to be featured in this year's Entrepreneurship Indiana.

The annual yearbook highlights 100 innovative and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and the people that support them. Get your submission in by the end of May to be considered:

Shining a spotlight on Indiana’s best and brightest entrepreneurs – the doers, dreamers, and risk-takers who are building Indiana’s vibrant communities.

05/18/2026

Indiana's agriculture and nutrition ecosystem takes another major step forward.

Last week, USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden visited Indianapolis, following the announcement that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP) will be relocating to Indiana.

Vaden connected with ISDA Director Don Lamb and Indy-based USDA team leaders; toured potential agency sites; and met with leaders across Indiana's agbioscience industry, who offered insight into the state's innovative and collaborative strengths. During the visit, Vaden recognized Indianapolis for its business diversity, cutting edge technology, and strong presence in the chemical industry — all of which make the city a natural fit for the USDA.

SNAP plays a critical role in supporting children and families by improving access to nutrition, health and economic stability. The program's move to Indiana is part of a national reorganization meant to better prioritize state service and participant needs, while reducing redundancy. Indiana was selected as one of five hub locations to strengthen support nationwide and enhance customer service to the millions of families relying on these programs.

The relocation will also create opportunities for greater connection between the USDA and its constituents, including Indiana farmers — driving long-term economic growth benefits across the state.

Details and photos courtesy of AgriNovus Indiana

05/18/2026

Our READI team was on hand to help celebrate the opening of the new water reclamation facility in Charlestown, Indiana, with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

This significant wastewater utility upgrade:
💧Doubles the facility's capacity to handle up to 4 million gallons of water per day
🔬 Integrates advanced technology to effectively treat and remove water contaminants
🏭 Implements a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system that allows remote plant monitoring
🧪 Expands infrastructure with a new administration building and a larger lab for required Department of Environmental Management testing

Engineers and staff strategically designed a plant to support future growth with long-term potential to process 22 million gallons of water per day. Built to support a growing population and commercial development, these advancements directly serve the city's diverse residential and industrial needs.

Project financing included $9.9 million from IEDC's READI 1.0, $12.5 million from River Ridge Development Authority, $5 million from Indiana Finance Authority and $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Mayor of Charlestown Treva Hodges said, "This project is important for our current utility users but also critical for potential new residential, retail and commercial needs."

Proud to see READI's contribution and impact on local communities — strengthening Indiana's quality of place for generations to come.