Incentive deal for Kokomo battery plant the largest in state history
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. laid out a substantial incentive package to lure the joint venture, with tax credits and investments totaling at least $186 million.
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Stellantis plans $2.5B electric-vehicle battery plant in Kokomo, 1,400 jobs
The companies said the investment could grow to $3.1 billion as Stellantis—formed last year with the merger of Fiat Chrysler and France’s PSA Peugeot—ramps up production of electric vehicles.
Indiana Sports Corp. leader Vaughn leaving job for private sector
Ryan Vaughn, who has led the Indiana Sports Corp. since 2014, plans to resign from his role as president on July 1. There has been speculation that Vaughn might someday run for mayor.
Life sciences experts say Indiana needs to push collaborations to compete with other states
A panel of Indiana life science experts on Friday said the state could become more competitive for large investments and jobs if it doubled down on the kind of collaborations and partnerships that other states have used to their advantage.
Bill Oesterle: ‘We are going to have to innovate ourselves’
David Ricks called on government for help fix Indiana’s business climate. I think we will have to do more—a lot more. State government simply lacks the technological sophistication, budgetary discipline and political consensus to do enough.
Lilly CEO has leaders talking about whether state is doing enough to grow Indiana
David Ricks’ lunchtime speech to The Economic Club of Indiana—repeated on social media by those in attendance and reported by IBJ and local TV stations—has reverberated across the state.
Lilly’s David Ricks: ‘We’re going to struggle’
The following is a partial transcript of Ricks’ speech to the Economic Club of Indiana on April 20, in which he spoke about problems in Indiana’s business climate.
Brad Chambers: Indiana is in a ‘state of continuous improvement’
While discussions about opportunities for improvement are important, they should also be framed in context of relative strengths. Indiana is strong and getting stronger.
Catalent to invest $350M in Bloomington operations, add 1,000 jobs through 2023
The expansion comes on top of more than 1,000 positions the drugmaker has added since Jan. 1, 2021, bringing its current Bloomington workforce total to more than 4,000, which includes employees and workers provided by staffing agencies.
New banners encourage you to weigh in on downtown’s future
The city of Indianapolis and GangGang cultural firm are using the hashtag #DowntownIndy to seek feedback on social media platforms.
Lilly CEO: Indiana must improve education, reduce health care costs to stay competitive
When it comes to competing for jobs, Indiana is far behind the curve in critical ways, Eli Lilly and Co. CEO David Ricks told a lunch crowd Wednesday at the Economic Club of Indiana.
IBJ Podcast: Jeff Simmons on Elanco’s global HQ and creating a magnet for talent, innovation
CEO Jeff Simmons explains why the project is far more than simply an office building. He tells host Mason King that the goal is to create what the company calls “a post-COVID workplace destination” that attracts talent to the city and the company and gives workers more flexibility and engagement.
Japanese e-vehicle battery company to build $2B Kentucky plant
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Envision AESC’s plan to build a 2,000-employee plant will help make Indiana’s southern neighbor the “undisputed electric battery production capital of the United States of America.”
State seeks land in Boone County for potentially mammoth tech park
Local officials say the goal is to amass thousands of acres along I-65 between Purdue University and Indianapolis to attract manufacturers of semiconductors, microprocessors and other high-tech components.
Boone County officials have few answers about possible large business development
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. recently approached Boone County officials about the possible development of land northwest of Lebanon for a big business project, but officials aren’t sharing much information.
Holcomb, Chambers to visit Slovakia, Israel on economic mission
The trip also will include a humanitarian component tied to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
READI funding snag might rule out some projects
Local and state officials learned in January that several projects included in plans awarded grants just a month before might now be ineligible because of rules attached to the funding.
Michigan Legislature starts voting to pause state gas tax
The average price for unleaded gas in Indiana’s neighboring state to the north has climbed to nearly $4.25 per gallon, up 62 cents in a week and 88 cents in a month, according to AAA Michigan.
Indoor vertical farm plans $70M facility, 120 jobs in Indiana
The company said the new location will allow it to expand its bagged salad and salad kit offerings to retailers and consumers throughout the Midwest and mid-south regions.
Speedway’s economic development director heading to McCordsville
During his tenure, Tim Gropp oversaw multiple major projects for the town, including the recently-opened Allison Transmission Innovation Center, the Abel Motorsports building and the $50 million Founders Square development.