Letter From Suzanne Crouch

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Friends and Fellow Hoosiers,

As I close out my time as Lt. Governor, I wanted to thank you for your support over the last 8 years.
As Lt. Governor of Indiana, I served as President of the Senate and oversaw four state agencies.

I also am very proud to have chaired the Indiana Mental Health Roundtable and the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Task Force – both of which have a special place in my heart.

I’m grateful for all we have accomplished over the last 8 years on behalf of Hoosiers and communities across the state – especially House Bill 1384, which requires sixth graders to take a civics course, that derived from the Indiana Civic Education Task Force that I chaired in 2020.
It has been the honor of my life to serve Hoosiers at the Statehouse!
Suzanne Crouch
Mental Health
In 2021, I co-founded the Indiana Mental Health Roundtable to reduce the stigma, strengthen the delivery systems, and improve access and affordability.

In 2023, I testified in support of SEA 1 as the sitting Lt. Governor. This bill infused $100 million in new funding to lay the groundwork for expanding certified behavioral health centers in the state and the 9-8-8 National Suicide and Crisis Line across Indiana.

As Lt. Governor, I’ve hosted dozens of mental health discussions across communities throughout the state. The Indiana Mental Health Roundtable started hosting an annual summit in 2023 – bringing together leaders across the country to discuss various topics surrounding mental health.

And one of my favorite times of year has always been the State Fair. I’ve been thrilled to have the support to host the Mental Health Matters Day.
Learn more about Lt. Governor Crouch’s legacy here
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Task Force
The Task Force was established by HEA 1102 in the 2017 General Assembly. I have been honored to chair this Task Force and be a voice for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities – including autism, down syndrome, and cerebral palsy.

As I always say: Our friends with disabilities are really just friends with different abilities, and they have the same dreams of every Hoosier and every American, to have friends, to have a job, to love and be loved…to be successful.

As my time in office comes to a close, Arc of Indiana honored me with the Lifetime Achievement Award for my commitment to advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Agriculture
As Secretary of Agriculture, I’ve been proud of the strides we have made here in Indiana under my tenure.

Recent reports show agriculture contributes more than $31.2 billion to the Hoosier economy, making Indiana the 10th largest agriculture state. More than 80 percent of Indiana’s land is devoted to farms and forests.

Agriculture production has grown 62% over the last 5 years, and Indiana remains a leader in top producer in the country of popcorn, gourds, duck, soybeans, corn, hogs, and much more.

Special thanks to our Hoosier farmers who feed our country!
Rural Affairs and Broadband
One of the four agencies I oversaw as Lt. Governor was the Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

During my tenure, we advanced broadband and digital infrastructure, investing more than $273 million, connecting more than 70,000 homes and businesses.

Under my leadership, IN Main Street communities saw more than $493M in public investment and $1.6B in private investment. Additionally, 2,000 public improvement projects created more than 2,200 jobs.
Tourism and Housing
In 2018, we celebrated 40 years of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority in 2018. Under my leadership, IHCDA launched HONOR Our Vets homebuyer program, we have helped tens of thousands of Hoosiers become homeowners, and invested millions in downpayment assistance and other programs. Check out more IHCDA accomplishments here.

While overseeing the Indiana Destination Development Corporation, the IDDC received a nearly $20 million budget increase to invest in tourism efforts for the state.

As of the 2022 impact study:

  • Travel & Tourism sector accounted for 2.3% of Indiana’s Gross State Product. Tourism contributed $9.9 billion to Indiana’s economy.
  • Tourism- generated tax revenues increased 15.8% to a total of $2.8 billion. State and local taxes increased 16% to $1.6 billion.
 

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