In the News

State officials say Indiana is well-positioned to attract a larger share of $800 billion per year in U.S. defense contracts and that the Wabash Valley can lead the way. The Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce Tuesday announced formation of the West Central Indiana Defense Network, chaired by Greg Gibson, a Terre Haute businessman, and Steve Witt, president of Terre Haute Economic Development Corp. Other members include business, government and development leaders from Vigo, Clay, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan and Vermillion counties. The six-county network seeks to boost the region’s economy by strengthening relationships with the defense community and veterans. Its focus areas are community and government engagement, education and research and support of military personnel and veterans. “We were able to put together what we feel is a very comprehensive overview of what west-central Indiana offers,” said Kristen Craig, vice president of the chamber. Those offerings include the region’s transportation network, education and health care resources, existing industries and workforce, utilities and quality of place and regionalism, Craig said, “all things that we have in our communities that stand ready to support any defense-related economic development that might have an interest.” Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch praised the efforts of the chamber and RJL Solutions to help bring the region together and work more closely at the state level to attract business and investment. “This area is becoming a benchmark for collaboration and competition. You all are getting it right,” Crouch said. “People around the state are taking notice of what’s happening here in Terre Haute.” With the region’s five higher education institutions – Indiana State and DePauw universities, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Ivy Tech Community College and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College – existing defense contractors such as GE Aviation, ThyssenKrupp and Terre Haute Regional Airport, “you are primed for success in this industry,” Crouch said. Eighth Dist. Rep. Larry Bucshon also spoke, saying “West-central Indiana has the potential for tremendous defense asset development and at the same time [to] provide a great economic impact on communities within the region.” The area’s educational institutions can provide a well-trained workforce, Bucshon said. The region is also home to the Indiana Air National Guard’s 181st Intelligence Wing, and the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Martin and Greene counties is nearby, Bucshon and others noted. In conjunction with the regional network announcement, state officials reported completion of work made possible by a 2015 federal grant to create a statewide database of businesses interested in federal contracts in defense and other areas.

The $2.7 million grant from the Office of Economic Adjustment was awarded under a program to help communities impacted by defense department changes, including base closures and realignments and cancellation of contracts or programs. Some technology takes eight years to make it from development to the front lines, but Danielle Chrysler, director of the Indiana Office of Defense Development, said, “Indiana has what it takes to shorten that life cycle and support the next generation of warfighter.”

She cited the work by universities in the state in areas such as hypersonics and artificial intelligence, a broad industry supply chain and a multi-domain testing complex at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center. Indiana currently captures only 1 percent of the nation’s defense market but the launch of the database, called Coliseum HQ, can help businesses secure a greater share of that business, Chrysler said.

No other state is operating at the same level with digital resources, she said. About 7,900 businesses are in the database. In addition to creation of the database, the state used the grant funds to implement diversification for defense businesses in communications, strategic planning, lien management and certifications, according to Crouch’s office.