Indiana exceeds veteran-owned biz contract goal

Indiana has exceeded a goal set by Gov. Mike Pence of awarding at least 3 percent of state contracts each year to veteran-owned businesses.

Last fiscal year, Indiana awarded just over 4 percent of state contracts to veteran-owned businesses, the Evansville Courier & Press reported.
Indiana Department of Administration data shows that those 13 contracts were worth $8 million.

Shortly after Pence took office in 2013, he signed an executive order setting a target of 3 percent of state contracts being awarded to veteran-owned businesses.

That goal was then endorsed by the Indiana General Assembly and is now state law.

Pence said in a statement that "Indiana is more than thrilled to have surpassed this objective." He said the state is home to nearly a half-million Hoosier veterans.