Governor Braun touts economic momentum across wages, entrepreneurship and regional strength

 Indiana Governor Mike Braun chaired the 2026 second quarter Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) board of directors meeting today, celebrating significant wins that will have a positive impact on Hoosier jobs, wages, industries, entrepreneurship and quality of place. 
 
In 2026 alone, 34 businesses have made plans to locate or expand in Indiana, committing to create more than 3,000 new jobs with average wages of $43.77/hour - 44% higher than the state’s average wage and 10% higher than last year’s record. 

Together, these new jobs are expected to create $273.7 million in new payroll for Hoosiers. This includes recent high wage wins like Boston Scientific Corporation (300 jobs in Hendricks County), Bridge Advisors (75 jobs in Vanderburgh County), Capital Group (200 jobs in Hamilton County), JD North America (200 jobs in Hamilton County) and Merrell Brothers (35 jobs in Howard County). 

"Indiana’s approach to economic development is delivering for Hoosiers, supporting businesses as they grow and invest here” said Gov. Braun. “With a clear focus on increasing jobs and wages, workers of today and tomorrow can be confident that Indiana will offer high-wage, in-demand careers that improve their lives, their families and their community.” 
 
At today’s meeting, the IEDC also outlined recent wins and initiatives across the Governor’s priority areas of regionalism and entrepreneurship. 
 
Regionalism:
Secretary of Commerce David J. Adams highlighted how the state is delivering on Gov. Braun's promise to empower regionally-led strategies. In March, Gov. Braun announced a once-in-a-generation, $1 billion investment in the state's agriculture and life sciences industries. The initiative aims to build on Indiana's already robust ecosystem to create 100,000 new jobs in 10 years while solidifying the state as a global destination for human, animal, plant and environmental health. It is expected to spur similar, regionally-driven initiatives across the state. 

Additionally, the state's READI initiative continues to progress, accelerating quality of place and quality of life investments across Indiana’s 15 regions. READI 1.0 funds are on track to be paid out by the end of 2026, supporting 421 projects – 281 of which have already been completed – and READI 2.0 funds are expected to be paid out by 2028, supporting another 399 projects identified and driven by Indiana’s regions. 

Implementation of READI funds supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. (LEI) are taking shape as well, with $151 million already awarded to 46 blight redevelopment projects across the state. These projects will revitalize abandoned buildings, vacant landmarks and underutilized public spaces to benefit the regions’ residents in a variety of ways, including increasing affordable housing, accelerating urban commerce, and creating community assets that will boost tourism along with talent retention and attraction.

New blight redevelopment awards highlighted at today’s meeting include:

• 2 North Broadway redevelopment in Peru (North Central Indiana) – $625,000 award

• Firehouse Flats in Vincennes (Indiana First Region) – $4M award

• Guesthouse Coin Laundry (Indiana First Region) –$228,400 award

• Homes for the Future (Wabash River Region) – $5M award

• On the Banks Riverfront Development in Logansport (North Central Indiana) – $5M award

• Regal-Beloit Factory Transformation in Valparaiso (Northwest Indiana) – $3M award

• Rural Residential Blight Reimagined (Accelerate Rural Indiana) – $2.9M award

Entrepreneurship:
The board provided an update on the many ways Indiana is supporting current and aspiring entrepreneurs, small businesses and high-growth startups across Indiana. So far this year, the state’s efforts have resulted in $51 million committed to Indiana’s entrepreneurial and venture capital ecosystem through various grants, loans, tax credits and direct investments. 

Key programs and funding allocations outlined in today’s meeting include:

• $600,00 in Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) matching grants awarded to 10 Indiana companies, supporting R&D and speeding commercialization for innovations across AI, biotechnology and quantum technology.

• $195,733 in Innovation Vouchers awarded to seven Indiana companies, helping innovators collaborate with Indiana-based nonprofit research institutions and academic institutions to develop or iterate new products and service.

• $139,179 in grants awarded to 20 Indiana companies through the Indiana State Trade and Export Promotion (IN-STEP) program, helping small businesses access new customers and markets worldwide

• $945,000 in awards to 73 Indiana companies through the Indiana Technical Assistance Program (INTAP), which provides up to $15,000 in services from a qualified professional or technical vendor to help small businesses complete growth and improvement projects.

• $2.185M in small business loans supported in part by the IEDC through the Capital Access Program, bolstering Indiana lenders helping small businesses access the funds needed to start and grow.

• $3.16M approved in direct equity through the 21 Fund managed by Elevate Ventures, providing critical venture funding to seed and pre-seed Indiana companies.

• $35M committed to local venture funds (Crossroads Health Ventures, Iron Nation and Roll Tack Ventures) to cultivate Indiana’s startup activity, sector innovation and commercialization.