Joined at the announcement by his running mate, State Rep. Christina Hale, the Gregg/Hale Economic Growth Plan includes detailed proposals to grow higher-wage jobs, attract and retain business and better prepare the Hoosier workforce for jobs of the future.
“While Mike Pence has been obsessing over social issues, Hoosier working families are falling further and further behind,†said Gregg, a former university president and Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives. “We need to reset our priorities and refocus on the big mission of economic growth for all Hoosiers in all communities across the state. That’s what our proposal does.â€
It is the eighth in a series of policy proposals already released by the campaign. In addition to specific policy proposals, the Gregg/Hale Economic Growth Plan outlines benchmarks by which their administration will measure the state’s progress. Those metrics include reversing Indiana’s population decline, raising wages and increasing the number of Hoosiers with two-year degrees or more.
“Our plan takes the best ideas from business, labor, entrepreneurs, academic and economic development leaders to streamline programs, cut waste, better utilize our tax dollars and build upon the good things that have already been done,†said State Rep. Christina Hale, a former Kiwanis International executive. “Indiana’s economic challenges won’t be solved overnight, that’s why setting measurable goals and developing a long-term, strategic plan like this is so critically important. It’s about results.â€
Specifically, the Gregg/Hale Economic Growth Plan includes:
• Building and Retaining a Skilled Workforce. As governor, Gregg will institute an optional pre-school for all 4-year olds across the state; pass a workshare program into law to secure more jobs; map existing workforce training efforts to create better coordination among service providers; and target more of the state’s training dollars towards high-wage, high-growth sectors of the economy: life sciences, advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, information technology and 21st century logistics.• Growing Indiana Small Business. Indiana ranks 47th in the nation for business startups. To spur growth Gregg will eliminate the 21st Century Research and Development Fund and repurpose its $40 million into a venture capital matching grant and loan program called the GO Fund; update the state’s venture capital tax credit; support the creation of business incubators in rural communities; order a review of the state’s tax code to help small business and; decouple state contracts so more Hoosier businesses can compete for state work.
• Supporting Existing Business. Gregg’s plans call for revitalizing the state’s trade and export assistance efforts to help small and medium sized Hoosier businesses; creating a taskforce to fight tax fraud; improving broadband access in underserved areas and; mapping Indiana’s water and sewer infrastructure in order to prioritize future projects.
• Streamlining the State’s Economic and Training Efforts. Gregg will diversify the Indiana Economic Development Corporation board to include education, infrastructure and workforce experts and will require quicker turnarounds and more transparency in the agency; work with the state’s 69 airports to better utilize land for new economic development opportunities; and align all state agency service maps to ensure greater collaboration and support to local communities.
• Leveraging Partnerships. Gregg will seek legislation to give local governments the flexibility to use local option income taxes for economic development and quality of life projects and; he will designate a staffer within the governor’s office to work with the $6 billion philanthropic community in Indiana to better coordinate efforts, secure funding for state projects and develop new partnerships.
• Rebuilding the State’s Reputation. With the state’s economy still suffering from Governor Pence’s discriminatory Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Gregg will work to repeal the law, update the state’s civil rights code to include LGBT Hoosiers and create a public-private advertising fund to help repair the state’s image.
The Gregg/Hale Economic Growth Plan will be funded using existing dollars within the state budget and will require no additional funding. To read the entire plan, click here or visit http://www.greggforgovernor.com/issues/economic-growth/
For more information on John Gregg, Christina Hale or their campaign, please visit www.greggforgovernor.comor call 317-510-1876.
Gregg = ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz………………
Comments are closed.