07-24-2026 Governor Braun Travels Across Indiana, Highlights Jobs, Wages, Entrepreneurship and Affordability

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 24, 2026

Governor Braun Travels Across Indiana, Highlights Jobs, Wages, Entrepreneurship and Affordability

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Governor Mike Braun this week visited communities across Indiana to meet with local leaders, highlight businesses and entrepreneurs creating jobs and raising wages, celebrate investments in innovation and quality of place, and discuss efforts to make child care more affordable.

" This week, I met with local leaders, family businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators who are creating opportunities for Hoosiers across our state. From advanced manufacturing and space technology to small business, the arts, and child care, we are focused on growing jobs and wages and making Indiana a more affordable place to build a career and raise a family." - Governor Mike Braun

On Monday, Governor Braun met with Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore to discuss proposed lane changes to Louisville's Second Street Bridge and their potential impact on Hoosier commuters.

Governor Braun then visited Schimpff's Confectionery, a family-owned Jeffersonville business that has been making candy for more than 130 years. The Governor toured the business and candy museum and highlighted the role family businesses play in supporting jobs, wages and vibrant downtown communities.

Later Monday, Governor Braun joined Redwire Corporation executives and employees in Georgetown to celebrate the grand opening of the company's new 30,000-square-foot space research and manufacturing facility. The facility supports high-wage careers for engineers, scientists and technicians working in advanced space manufacturing, biotechnology and human spaceflight.

On Tuesday, Governor Braun met with Jennings County Commissioners Matt Sporleder, Shane Boswell and Charlie St. John to discuss local infrastructure and economic development priorities.

The Governor then joined local leaders for the grand opening of the Advanced Machine and Vehicle Innovation Center in Columbus. AMVIC will support advanced technology development, provide workforce training and help connect Hoosiers with high-wage careers in growing industries.

Later Tuesday, Governor Braun participated in a fireside chat with the Asian American Alliance, where he discussed Indiana's economic growth, affordability, and entrepreneurship. Governor Braun also presented Rupal Thanawala with a Sagamore of the Wabash in recognition of her service to Indiana.

Tuesday evening, Governor Braun delivered remarks at IBJ Media's Indiana 250 reception at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. The Indiana 250 recognizes influential leaders across business, philanthropy, the arts, government and not-for-profit organizations whose work is strengthening communities across the state.

Braun administration leaders recognized among this year's Indiana 250 honorees included Secretary of Commerce Chuck Goodrich, Secretary of Management and Budget Lisa Hershman, Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources Suzie Jaworowski, Secretary of Education and Commissioner for Higher Education Dr. Katie Jenner, and Governor Braun's Chief of Staff Josh Kelley.

On Wednesday, Governor Braun joined leaders from Indiana's 15 READI regions and representatives of 49 grant-winning projects to celebrate the READI 2.0 Arts and Culture Initiative. The Lilly Endowment awarded a $250 million grant to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to support quality-of-place investments through READI 2.0, $65 million of which will go to arts and culture projects. The selected projects include historic preservation, performance venues, public art, cultural destinations, community spaces, creative entrepreneurship and workforce development. Indiana ' s arts and culture sector contributes more than $10 billion annually to the state's economy and supports 92,643 jobs.

On Thursday, Governor Braun met with Lafayette economic development leaders, entrepreneurs and local officials at MatchBOX Coworking Studio to discuss the Lafayette Entrepreneur and Enterprise District and strategies to help small businesses grow, create jobs and raise wages.

Later Thursday, Governor Braun toured Growing Kids Learning Center in Chesterton and highlighted his administration's efforts to make dependable child care more accessible and affordable for working families.

Governor Braun spoke about his administration's actions to make child care more affordable, including a $200 million investment to expand affordable child care and support families, and action to expand Indiana's employer child care tax credit to give employers more options to support child care facilities, partnerships, and services for their workers.