{"id":129091,"date":"2026-03-18T02:18:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T06:18:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=129091"},"modified":"2026-03-18T16:41:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T20:41:20","slug":"iedc-strong-wage-growth-regional-investments-and-entrepreneurial-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2026\/03\/18\/iedc-strong-wage-growth-regional-investments-and-entrepreneurial-support\/","title":{"rendered":"IEDC: Strong wage growth, regional investments and entrepreneurial support"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Indiana Governor Mike Braun chaired the 2026 first quarter Indiana Economic Development Corporation board of directors meeting today, detailing a strong start to the year for economic development that will lead to more opportunities for Hoosiers.<\/p>\n

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News release from Indiana Governor Mike Braun’s office:<\/p>\n

Governor Braun Details Strong Wage Growth, Regional Investments & Entrepreneurial Support<\/strong><\/p>\n

Indianapolis, Indiana (March 18, 2026) \u2013 Indiana Governor Mike Braun chaired the 2026 first quarter Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) board of directors meeting today, detailing a strong start to the year for economic development that will lead to more opportunities for Hoosiers.<\/p>\n

So far this year, 19 businesses have committed to locating or expanding in Indiana, together pledging to create 1,368 new jobs with average wages of $45.34\/hour \u2013 an increase from last year\u2019s record of over $40\/hour. That\u2019s up 14% from 2025 and nearly 26% from 2024.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the cost of those incentivized jobs remains low, averaging $16,014 per job so far in 2026, a 65% decrease from 2024.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndiana\u2019s economic development strategy continues to pay dividends for Hoosiers, creating new high-wage, high-growth career opportunities while reducing the burden of these jobs on taxpayers,\u201d said Gov. Braun. \u201cIn addition to creating new jobs, we are delivering on our promise to encourage regional strategy and decision making and to lift up entrepreneurs and small business owners.\u201d<\/p>\n

At today\u2019s meeting, the IEDC also outlined recent wins and initiatives across the Governor\u2019s priority areas of regionalism and entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n

Regionalism<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

The board highlighted new legislation enhancing the IEDC’s ability to target the Redevelopment Tax Credit Program (RTC) toward regionally driven priorities, accelerating investment in community revitalization and talent attraction statewide. Paired with the state’s historic $1 billion commitment to Indiana’s life sciences sector announced yesterday, these efforts position Indiana to strengthen its national leadership while supporting the creation of up to 100,000 high-quality jobs over the next decade and driving meaningful wage growth for Hoosiers.<\/p>\n

Regional investments through READI 1.0 and READI 2.0 continue to move forward quickly. To date, $487 million in READI 1.0 funding has been obligated \u2013 and $409 million has been disbursed \u2013 to 421 quality of place projects and programs statewide. 258 (61%) of these projects have already been completed.<\/p>\n

And with READI 2.0, $176 million has been obligated to 121 projects while another $369 million is expected to be allocated to 242 projects that have been pre-approved but not yet finalized. These READI 2.0 investments are exceeding the required 4:1 match, currently leveraging a total match of $23 in private, local and non-profit dollars for each $1 of state funding allocated.<\/p>\n

Thanks to a $250 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., the state is supporting even more regional strategies. So far, the IEDC has committed $131 million to 17 blight remediation and redevelopment initiatives and plans to allocate $65 million toward arts and culture projects, with applications due next month.<\/p>\n

Entrepreneurship<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

In 2025, the IEDC, in partnership with the Indiana Small Business Development Center and its 10 regional offices, served more than 10,000 Hoosier entrepreneurs and small businesses. Additionally, the state awarded $66.8 million to Indiana\u2019s entrepreneurs and small businesses through investments, loans, grants and tax credits; invested $1 million in community initiatives to accelerate entrepreneurship; and helped launch 453 new Hoosier businesses.<\/p>\n

So far this year, the state has:<\/p>\n