AGP Executive Report

Fuel Relief: Gov. Mike Braun extended Indiana’s gas-tax suspension through Nov. 4, saving drivers about 61 cents per gallon, and continued easing dyed-diesel rules for farmers facing high harvest costs. Manufacturing Investment: Postle Aluminum plans a $36 million manufacturing operation in Howe; Amazon also announced a $100 million advanced-manufacturing facility in Indiana. Energy & Infrastructure: Zelestra closed $350 million in financing for a 203-megawatt Indiana solar project backed by Meta, as the state advances a nuclear-ready communities program. Research & Innovation: Purdue and Elanco broke ground on a One Health Research Institute in Indianapolis, bringing university and industry partners together on health research. Farm Economy: U.S. farm income is forecast to fall by $9 billion this year as expenses rise, adding pressure on Indiana producers already coping with high fuel costs.

Air Quality Policy: Residents near Missouri’s Labadie Energy Center say Trump-era EPA changes that delay and then repeal tighter mercury pollution rules are a gut punch for communities that fought for cleaner air. Public Transit & Workforce: Fort Wayne’s Citilink CEO John Metzinger, stepping down Oct. 9, highlighted how half of fixed-route riders use service for work access—an argument for transit as economic infrastructure. Indiana Energy Costs: Duke Energy Indiana is doubling bill help, boosting its Share the Light Fund to $900,000 for 2026 and adding a Summer Energy Credit, with up to $250 in annual assistance for eligible customers. Gas Tax & Diesel Relief: Gov. Mike Braun renewed Indiana’s gas tax suspension through Nov. 4 and expanded untaxed diesel access for farmers and timber harvesters on public roads. Data Centers & Rates: Indiana Michigan Power proposed a 2027 rate reduction tied to load growth from data centers, aiming to cut average residential bills by about $100 annually. Transportation Pilot: A $2.45M Lilly Endowment-backed pilot will expand low-cost, call-ahead transit in Clark and Floyd counties. INDOT Hiring: INDOT will hold winter seasonal hiring events Oct. 6 in Evansville, Paoli and Tell City, with CDL-required snowplow roles starting at $21–$25 per hour.

Ag & Food Security: Indiana 4-H youth collected 181,152 pounds of food for 52 local food banks through Farm Credit Mid-America’s Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer competition, with LaPorte County taking the statewide top spot. Biotech & Manufacturing: Elanco and Purdue broke ground on the One Health Research Institute in Indianapolis, a 150,000-square-foot lab and incubator aimed at accelerating diagnostics, vaccines and digital tools for animal agriculture by 2030. Housing & Development: Fort Wayne broke ground on a $14 million senior affordable housing project at Village Premier, adding 50 units plus retail space, supported by state and federal funding and READI dollars. Energy & Costs: Fuel prices continue to ease in many markets, but Indiana’s broader picture remains tied to refinery capacity and global oil swings. Trade & Supply Chains: Wabash updated investors on U.S. trade actions affecting van-type trailer imports, with China final duties and Canada/Mexico preliminary findings moving toward final decisions in December. Workforce & Immigration: Indiana employers filed 3 H-1B petitions in 2025 in the Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services category, with 2 approved.

Healthcare & Finance: Elevance Health, based in Indianapolis, will report third-quarter 2026 results Oct. 21, with a conference call and webcast the same morning. Workforce & Education: Hub 19 in Dubois County won an Employer Innovation Award for workforce readiness efforts linking students to local employers. Local Business & Community Giving: Being for Others Health and Wellness Foundation awarded $123,420 in 2026 project grants to 11 Southern Indiana organizations. Economic Development: Gov. Braun highlighted a $60 million READI-backed mixed-use project in downtown Evansville, The Vault on Main, adding 161 apartments and retail/office space. Infrastructure & Land Use: INDOT announced lane closures on I-69 near Newberry starting around Oct. 14. Public Safety & Justice: A federal grand jury indicted a Columbus man, Tyler Nike Thomas, in the alleged murder of Indiana teen Hailey Buzbee. Elections & Governance: A new report outlines how Indiana secretary of state candidates are positioning themselves on election administration and integrity.

Defense & Unmanned Systems: The USS Ronald Reagan is now the second U.S. aircraft carrier set up for MQ-25 Stingray unmanned tanker operations, with control-system upgrades installed during a drydock and sea trials still to validate the new setup. Education Finance: Indianapolis Public Schools is seeking changes to charge Innovation Network charter schools more for services like transportation, food service and facilities support, and says it will pursue legislative fixes to Indiana’s current caps. Rural Development: Rushville marked five years of Accelerate Rural Indiana and milestones for READI 1.0 and READI 2.0, highlighting ongoing project progress and partnerships. Regulation & Media: Cable groups filed to challenge the FCC’s repeal of the national TV ownership cap, setting up a likely court fight. AI Policy: Indiana Gov. Mike Braun is teaming with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore as governors push for a federal AI framework, even as critics question what states can realistically regulate. Food & Safety: The FDA expanded a Gatorade recall affecting 122,000+ cases across 37 states due to undeclared yellow dyes, adding another compliance headache for retailers. Local Business: Family Express will take over operations of Leo’s Market & Eatery stores, aiming to expand fresh-food offerings in the Indianapolis market.

Health Care Costs: A new STAT report argues employer health insurance premiums are rising mainly because health care prices stay “out of control,” not because people use more care. Public Health & Food: A review links processed meat and ultra-processed foods to higher dementia risk, while the CDC reports a growing alfalfa sprout outbreak tied to a single seed lot now sickening people across 16 states. Indiana Infrastructure: INDOT says Indiana interstate construction costs hit about $46 million per centerline mile in fiscal 2026, up sharply from 2015, as projects get more complex. Energy Assistance: NIPSCO opened winter help programs (Hardship, SERV, SILVER) for eligible customers, offering up to $500 toward residential gas bills. Local Governance & Schools: The Lilly Endowment’s Marion County K-12 initiative is funding major Indy school building work, including a new Herron-area theater and other projects. Business & Ag Tech: Corteva’s split into crop-protection-focused Corteva and seed/genetics spinout Vylor signals a sharper bet on innovation for farmers.

Food Safety: Alfalfa sprout illnesses tied to a single seed lot have climbed to 76 cases across 16 states, with Indiana among those affected as recalls expand into more kitchens. Retail & Consumer Protection: A separate frozen-berry recall has broadened to additional Trader Joe’s and Walmart Great Value lots sold in Indiana, raising the stakes for shoppers who eat berries without cooking. Energy & Utilities: Indiana’s winter road-maintenance hiring is underway: INDOT will hold a statewide seasonal CDL hiring event Oct. 6, with pay starting at $21/hour. Local Business & Infrastructure: Louis Dreyfus reopened the Burns Harbor grain terminal in Portage, restoring major export and storage capacity for Indiana corn and soy logistics. Data Centers: Kokomo is weighing a major Digital Realty campus proposal—estimated $1.4B to $1.7B—targeting operations in 2033. Public Health & Privacy: Hawaiʻi settled a multistate Labcorp vendor data-breach case, underscoring that HIPAA-covered companies can’t outsource security responsibility. Indiana Politics/Regulation: A Porter County forum put NIPSCO oversight, data centers, and affordable housing in the spotlight, with candidates debating rate and reliability concerns.

Indiana Agriculture: Indiana farmers can now apply for free soil testing through the Mississippi River Basin Soil Sampling Program, with applications open now through Nov. 6 (or until funds run out) to help growers fine-tune fertilizer use and cut nutrient runoff. Food Safety: The FDA expanded a frozen-berry recall tied to possible E. coli contamination, adding Great Value organic blueberries and triple berry blend plus Trader Joe’s frozen organic mixed berry blend, sold in multiple states including Indiana—consumers are urged not to eat the products. Energy & Policy: A new report says Meta is treating its AI data centers as “pilot models” for tax purposes to claim research and experimentation credits, while warning the IRS could challenge billions in credits. Housing & Construction: A Reuters/Ipsos analysis argues Trump-era tariffs have raised building-material costs and made housing less affordable, citing higher costs reported by home builders. Indiana Sports & Economy: Indiana’s defense and offense powered a 47-15 win over Rutgers, while the Colts’ London matchup with the Commanders highlights the NFL’s ongoing international push.

Manufacturing & Jobs: Amazon says it will invest $100M+ in an advanced manufacturing facility in Greenwood, targeting 300 manufacturing and engineering jobs by 2028. Energy & Utilities: NIPSCO says its temporary residential electric disconnection protections ended Sept. 30, and energy assistance enrollment is now open for eligible customers. Data Centers & Water: Kankakee County officials are reviewing an Indiana permit proposal tied to a proposed Amazon Web Services data center that would draw Kankakee River water for cooling, raising downstream concerns. Transportation Planning: INDOT will hold an Oct. 8 public hearing on a US 35 intersection project at Johnson/Severs Road, proposing a hybrid multilane roundabout with construction eyed for 2029. Public Safety: A high school football game at Warren Central in Indianapolis ended with a postgame shooting in the parking lot; two juveniles were taken to hospital and reported stable. Health & Food Safety: A frozen-berry recall tied to an E. coli outbreak expanded, adding more lots sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s, including products shipped to Indiana. Sports Business: Indiana Fever GM Amber Cox said off-court comments won’t affect whether the team pursues re-signing Sophie Cunningham after the Aces ended Indiana’s season.

Indiana Politics & Courts: Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita sued the state’s attorney disciplinary commission, alleging retaliation and asking a federal judge to block an ethics grievance tied to a personal jet ski dispute; the filing also claims taxpayers paid $491,508 for his private legal defense. Education & Accountability: Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools reviewed new ILEARN results and discussed a $50.6 million 2027 budget proposal, while Fort Wayne-area coverage highlights how housing costs and school funding pressures are colliding with policy debates. Housing Supply: A Fort Wayne report argues the city’s housing shortage is squeezing affordability and safety-net capacity, as local leaders push new development and lawmakers weigh zoning and tax changes. Workforce & Training: Indiana’s fall career fair drew nearly 250 employers seeking Rose-Hulman talent, underscoring ongoing competition for skilled workers. Energy & Infrastructure: Indiana interstate highway construction costs are rising, and separate coverage points to federal funding aimed at fixing regional electricity “chokepoints.” Business/Industry Watch: Amazon’s data-center and manufacturing push continues to draw scrutiny as communities weigh jobs against opposition.

Education & Philanthropy: The Lilly Endowment’s $348M Marion County K-12 Public Schools Initiative is funding major Indianapolis-area building projects, including a new theater at Herron High—solving space problems while also raising questions about how such large private donations shape public school facilities. Workforce Development: U.S. Sen. Todd Young backed a $6.74M U.S. Department of Labor grant for Indiana Department of Workforce Development employer-driven training in shipbuilding, advanced manufacturing, and nuclear energy. Indiana Business Moves: GovParts says it will expand in Fort Wayne, adding up to 20 jobs; Switzerland-based Givaudan plans a $215M West Harrison production facility creating 250+ jobs; and Amazon will invest $100M+ in a Greenwood manufacturing plant expected to add 300 jobs. Data Centers & Local Politics: OpenAI, Softbank, Blackstone and construction unions formed the American Infrastructure Alliance to push back against local opposition to new data centers, with an initial push that includes Indiana. Fuel Relief: States including Ohio are using gas tax holidays and targeted diesel relief as voters focus on affordability. Local Industry & Growth: Donnell Systems earned SBA women-owned small business certification, and DexKo Global named Lee Sneed president of Dexter.

Data Centers & Power Costs: Amazon says it will invest more than $1B over five years in communities hosting its data centers, pledging help with electricity and water impacts as local opposition grows. Consumer Safety: Consumer Reports warns cantilever-style bedside bassinets can tilt enough to raise unsafe-sleep risks, including one model tied to reported infant deaths. Indiana Agriculture Relief: Gov. Braun extends Indiana’s gas tax holiday through Nov. 4 and eases dyed-diesel rules for farmers as diesel prices stay high heading into harvest. Women in Ag: Indiana Farm Bureau awarded $1,000 grants to 10 women-owned agriculture-related small businesses for training, equipment, and tech upgrades. Energy & Grid: A guest column argues data centers are driving rate cuts in Indiana and other states, citing utility proposals and agreements tied to new demand. Legal/Pharma: States including Indiana sued DuPont/Corteva over a PFAS-related seeds spin-off, alleging an effort to shield $40B from future claims. Local Business/Workforce: KCARC recognized Brittney Carter’s 2026 graduation from the INARF Leadership Academy, highlighting leadership pipelines for disability services providers.

PFAS Liability Fight: Fifteen U.S. states, including Indiana, sued Corteva and its Vylor spinoff in Indiana state court, arguing the deal was designed to dodge tens of billions in “forever chemical” liabilities tied to DuPont-era PFAS. Housing & Jobs: Gov. Mike Braun pushed READI 2.0 housing projects expected to add at least 424 homes in Pike, Dearborn and Marshall counties, while also touting September jobs and wages announcements tied to advanced manufacturing, ag-biotech and defense. Diesel Relief for Farmers: Braun renewed Indiana’s gas tax suspension and expanded relief by lifting restrictions on untaxed dyed off-road diesel for farmers and timber harvesters during harvest, after lawmakers cited diesel prices near $7 a gallon. Energy Reliability Scrutiny: Braun highlighted the need to learn from August storm outages as the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission reviews reliability and resiliency. Indiana Business Growth: VIO Med Spa ranked No. 373 on Franchise Times’ Top 400, and LINE-X announced 11 new openings planned for 2026, including a North Indianapolis location. Aviation Safety: The NTSB released a preliminary report on a Hanover-area small plane crash, saying the pilot aborted takeoff before losing airspeed and hitting trees and a home.

Energy & Utilities Oversight: Indiana lawmakers grilled NIPSCO and state regulators during a marathon committee meeting on the Aug. 11 derecho response, with an approved report pushing for clearer emergency restoration procedures and tighter vegetation-management audits. Agriculture Fuel Relief: Gov. Mike Braun extended Indiana’s gasoline tax suspension through Nov. 4 and suspended dyed-diesel restrictions for farmers during harvest, after lawmakers urged relief from record diesel prices. Public Transit & Campus Impacts: Indiana University students reported delays after construction forced changes to campus bus routes, including a long closure on Eagleson Avenue affecting the B Route. Workforce & Infrastructure: INDOT will hold winter hiring interviews Oct. 6 in Paoli for seasonal snow and highway maintenance jobs. Manufacturing & Safety: B & C Industrial Products launched industrial casters with integrated steel toe guards cast into the frame, targeting foot-safety in forklift environments. Health & Community: Fort Wayne police highlighted Domestic Violence Awareness Month with events and partnerships, including a Nov. 4 conference at Purdue Fort Wayne.

Indiana Energy Policy: Gov. Mike Braun renewed Indiana’s energy emergency, extending the gas tax holiday through Nov. 4 and suspending dyed-diesel fuel restrictions—aimed at keeping fuel costs down for Hoosiers and adding harvest relief for farmers. Agriculture & Fuel Costs: State Rep. Jim Pressel and other lawmakers urged Braun to let farmers use untaxed off-road diesel in semi-trucks during harvest, citing near-$7 diesel prices and the scale of fuel use in crop operations. Healthcare & Legal: An Indiana federal judge certified a medical monitoring class in a DuPont lead exposure case involving minors, while denying certification of a personal injury class. Cybersecurity & Healthcare Infrastructure: Trimedx, based in Indianapolis, was named a Frost Radar “Visionary Leader” for healthcare infrastructure cybersecurity. Housing & Real Estate: Apartments.com reported September multifamily rent dipped slightly nationally (-0.08% to $1,752) but annual rent growth held at +1.5%. National Health Policy: The Trump administration began mailing $500 ACA refund checks to about 950,000 people in 30 states, tied to alleged federal exchange user-fee overcharges.

Workforce Training: The U.S. Department of Education approved Florida’s Workforce Pell Grant programs, expanding short, job-focused training that can be completed in as little as eight weeks—an approach Indiana employers watching the skilled-trades pipeline may want to track. Data Centers & Power: A new coalition backed by major AI firms, investors and construction unions is pushing states (including Indiana) toward stricter development standards instead of moratoriums, as lawmakers weigh electricity, water and community impacts. Healthcare Costs: A new Georgetown analysis finds about 68% of Michigan residents face at least one basic-cost squeeze (housing, food, health care or child care), underscoring the broader affordability pressure hitting the Midwest. Indiana Energy/Infrastructure: Indiana’s $175M federal push to modernize the power grid and address a regional “chokepoint” continues to shape utility planning and ratepayer expectations. Local Business & Community: Elkhart launched a three-day tree blitz to plant hundreds more trees before winter, tying neighborhood beautification to stormwater and heat relief. Public Safety: Indiana State Police reported a non-life-threatening shooting during a Tri-State-area residential break-in attempt in Franklin County.