Governor, Lt. Governor to Target Automotive, Agriculture Industry Growth in September

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 10, 2018) – Governor Eric J. Holcomb and Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch will lead international economic development trips in September, working to strengthen Indiana’s global economy by targeting growth in key sectors. 

Gov. Holcomb, First Lady Janet Holcomb and Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger will lead a delegation on a three-day mission to northern Italy, which boasts a strong automotive sector, from September 19-21 to meet with business prospects interested in expanding in the U.S. The delegation will also meet with executives of Italian companies with operations in Indiana, including OMR Automotive, Fontana and Valbruna Group, and will help celebrate the grand opening of the Dallara Academy at the company’s headquarters in Italy’s Motor Valley. The new educational and display center will highlight the company’s car designs and innovations while creating educational opportunities surrounding automotive racing for intermediate, high school and university students. 

“Indiana and Italy share a rich heritage for auto racing and manufacturing,” Gov. Holcomb said. “We’re proud to be home to Dallara, a premiere Italian automotive company and this trip will be an ideal opportunity to build on our shared successes by putting the pedal to the metal in our race to bring more global automotive and racing companies to our state.” 

Indiana is home to 30 Italian companies, which are largely in the automotive and manufacturing industries. Many Indiana-based businesses also have offices and facilities in Italy, including Allison Transmission, Berry Global, Cummins, Franklin Electric, Hillenbrand, Haynes International, Samtec and Zimmer Biomet. More information on Indiana’s ties to Italy is available here. 

The governor, first lady and secretary will be accompanied Rep. Randy Frye (R-Greensburg), Indiana General Assembly and chair of the Motorsports Caucus; Mark Miles, Hulman & Company and IEDC Board; Sarah Fisher, retired IndyCar driver, CEO and business owner; Michael Browning, Browning Investments and chair of the Visit Indy Board; Rollie Helmling, Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) senior vice president of global industry and trade development; and Jan Wiedemann, director of the IEDC’s office in Europe. 

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Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director (ISDA) Bruce Kettler will lead a delegation of Indiana’s agricultural leaders to Manitoba, Canada, from Sept. 16-19 to promote economic development and grow ties with the country’s largest agricultural province.

The delegation will participate in business round tables, hold meetings with senior government and university officials and tour research facilities. Conversations will revolve around agricultural youth leadership and education, seed research and genetics, and food development.

“Manitoba is at the center of Canadian agriculture, so this trip is an excellent opportunity for us to, not only demonstrate our global leadership in the industry, but also cultivate our relationship with Canada, which can open the door to new markets,” Crouch said. “We look forward to visiting this province and building on the progress made during the governor’s visits to Canada last spring.”

Indiana exports more product to Canada than any other country in the world and is home to more than 70 Canadian businesses, including CN Railway, Dorel Juvenile Group, KIK Custom Products and Magna Powertrain. Together, these businesses provide more than 15,600 jobs for Hoosiers, accounting for 8 percent of all Indiana jobs supported by foreign direct investment.

The Lt. Governor, Director Kettler and several state employees will be joined by:

• John Baugh, Purdue University Director of Ag Services and Regulations
• Michael Beard, Indiana Corn Marketing Council Board President
• JoAnn Brouillette, Demeter LP President
• Kendell Culp, Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc. Vice President
• Edward Ebert, Indiana Soybean Alliance Senior Director of Grain Production & Utilization
• Thomas Griffiths, Indiana Soybean Alliance Board Chairman
• Harold Gutzwiller, Hoosier Energy Manager of Economic Development & Key Accounts
• Randall Kron, Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc. President
• Douglas Leman, Indiana Dairy Producers Executive Director
• Kelly Maucere, My Sugar Pie Owner
• Timothy Phelps, Hathaway Strategies Vice President
• Mark Poeschl, National FFA Organization Chief Executive Officer
• Justin Swanson, Bose McKinney & Evans Governmental Services Group Of Counsel
• Ronald Turco Jr., Purdue University Department Head of Agronomy

Further updates on the Governor’s economic development trip will come from the IEDC, and updates on the Lt. Governor’s agriculture trip will come from the ISDA. The cost of the state delegation traveling to Italy and the cost of the Lt. Governor’s travel to Canada are being paid through private donations to the Indiana Economic Development Foundation.

About IEDC
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) leads the state of Indiana’s economic development efforts, helping businesses launch, grow and locate in the state. Governed by a 15-member board chaired by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, the IEDC manages many initiatives, including performance-based tax credits, workforce training grants, innovation and entrepreneurship resources, public infrastructure assistance, and talent attraction and retention efforts. For more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.

About ISDA
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) was established as a separate state agency by the Legislature in 2005. Administratively, ISDA reports to Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, who also serves as Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. Major responsibilities include advocacy for Indiana agriculture at the local, state and federal level, managing soil conservation programs, promoting economic development and agricultural innovation, serving as a regulatory ombudsman for agricultural businesses, and licensing grain firms throughout the state.