Economic Development

Recent years have been difficult for our state and national economies. When times are this tough, state government must do all that it can to help create a business climate that can attract and retain good jobs.

In my first term, I served as vice-chair for the Small Business and Economic Development Committee. I believe that Indiana will be well positioned to compete both nationally and internationally if we are smart and strategic in our economic development policies.  I will continue to support an economic development strategy committed to the following:

Workforce development: This is one of the most important issues facing companies considering Indiana for retention, expansion, or new business. We must make sure our Hoosier workforce is well-trained and prepared for the jobs of the 21st century. We need to quickly and efficiently re-train our hardworking, dependable, and motivated workers to adapt their existing skills to new tasks.

Education: We must start early to build the talented workforce that companies need in order to succeed in an increasingly globally competitive environment. Our public schools must be able to educate all students at high levels. We need to do this both to expand the homegrown Hoosier workforce and to meet the expectations of the employees whose companies choose to locate in our state.

Small businesses: State government needs to work harder to promote the growth of small businesses, which make up over two-thirds of all new jobs created in Indiana. We need to improve awareness of existing programs  and make sure that we offer the right balance of incentives to attract businesses of sizes.

"Clean economy jobs." Indiana must be in a position to attract companies in the "green" sector. This strategy extends across many industries and is growing rapidly in response to the marketplace and cost of energy. Indiana needs to be more aggressive and competitive in moving towards the economies of the future and less protective of aging technologies.

Manufacturing: We cannot forget that the backbone of Indiana's economy is our strong manufacturing sector. State government needs to help existing manufacturers succeed in Indiana and compete with foreign businesses, while encouraging them to better adapt to future realities.

Life sciences, high-tech industries and clean energy technologies: By staying ahead of the game and encouraging growth in these predictably strong sectors, Indiana can position itself for long-term prosperity. We can’t stand still and expect past success stories to carry us into the future. We need to invest carefully in research and new technologies with the potential to create Indiana products and Indiana jobs.