Holcomb Unveils Economic Development Plan
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Republican candidate for governor says talent and infrastructure are among the top priorities in his economic development plan. Lieutenant Governor Eric Holcomb announced his plan Tuesday at DeveloperTown in Indianapolis, saying the state has done a great job of attracting new businesses over the last few years and now is the time to accelerate the recruitment of talent from throughout the world.
Holcomb says one of the main ways to bring in top talent is to continue to increase wages throughout the state, which will also help retain talent already in Indiana. "With the exception of the recession years, 2008 and 2009, wages in Indiana have gone up and we’re going to focus on making sure they continue to go up and that will be a key driver in what this plan all points to."
Holcomb says he will continue to promote Governor Mike Pence’s $1 billion proposal to invest in entrepreneurship and innovation by supporting startups, high-growth companies, coworking spaces and high school entrepreneurship programs. He says he will also work with the Indiana General Assembly to grow the Regional Cities Initiative.
With infrastructure, Holcomb says he will continue to invest in state and local roads by finding a long-term solution led by data. He says he will continue to support some of the major infrastructure projects in the state, including the double tracking of the South Shore Line from Gary to Michigan City, the completion of the I-69 extension from Evansville to Indianapolis, the building of the fourth new bridge over the Ohio River in Evansville and building the state’s fourth port in southeast Indiana.
"These are big projects that will be transformational in different quadrants," said Holcomb. "It may not be on everyone’s mind in central Indiana about the South Shore double tracking or the fourth port in southeast Indiana, but these are things that need to be done."
When it comes to funding these infrastructure projects, Holcomb says part of that will come through in the legislative process. "What I won’t do is say, ‘Let’s just borrow our way or rate our way into paying for things,’ and start writing checks that I can’t cash. I understand that we will have to work with our friends in the General Assembly and we have a strong agreement that this is what needs to be done; a long term infrastructure program needs to be accomplished and I’m looking forward to that."
Holcomb’s plan also includes working to keep energy costs down for Hoosiers and maintaining Indiana’s fiscal discipline by passing a balanced budget and preserving the state’s AAA credit rating. You can learn more about Holcomb’s economic development plan by clicking here.