AGP Executive Report

Research and Innovation: Purdue and Elanco broke ground on a planned 150,000-square-foot One Health Research Institute, bringing university researchers and industry partners together to advance animal and human health research and commercialization. Energy and Data Centers: Indiana Michigan Power says technology and data-center growth is helping support a proposed residential rate cut of about $10 a month; regulators still need to approve the plan. Renewable Investment: Zelestra secured $350 million in financing for its 203-megawatt Gibson County solar project, backed by a long-term agreement with Meta. Construction is underway, with about 200 jobs expected at its peak. Retail Expansion: Family Express is taking over operations at six Leo’s Market & Eatery locations, expanding its convenience-store footprint. Business Readiness: Indiana has opened applications for its Advanced Nuclear Ready Program as the state looks to prepare communities for potential nuclear development.

BMV Modernization Funding: Indiana’s “blackout” license plates have topped 380,000 sales since launch, generating about $12.9 million for a five-year Bureau of Motor Vehicles modernization plan that includes new payment machines and more 24/7 BMV Connect kiosks. Gas Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports show Indiana’s regular gas averaged about $3.95 per gallon in the week ending Sept. 26, with Henry County’s low at $3.77 and Howard County’s low at $3.98; diesel averaged about $6.21 statewide, with Grant County’s low at $6.24. Ethics in Business: The Better Business Bureau Serving Northern Indiana named 12 finalists for its Torch Awards for Ethics, with winners set for an Oct. 22 dinner at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Legal/Transport: A Texas appeals court reversed a denial of a transportation company’s special appearance in a tractor-trailer injury case, turning on whether Indiana-based logistics firms could be sued in Texas. Community & Culture: Ideal Aerosmith opened a new facility in Grand Forks to expand mechanical assembly operations, underscoring continued aerospace investment.

Workforce & Growth: Power Home Remodeling earned the No. 2 spot on Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Construction list for the fourth straight year, highlighting employee survey results and a people-first culture. Construction Tech: DriftWrx’s venture studio named InventoryHQ its first portfolio platform, aiming to help contractors track materials and equipment tied to real job workflows. Energy & Finance: BidConnectUSA opened national enrollment for its Buildings Financial Rewards Program, letting qualifying commercial energy-efficiency projects potentially earn recurring rewards via carbon-credit sales. Data Centers & Policy: An Indiana push from an AI-and-labor coalition seeks “guardrails” for new data centers, targeting energy, water, and community-benefit commitments while pushing back on local moratoriums. Housing Market: Redfin reports a buyer-leaning shift as more sellers cut prices; Indianapolis is among metros seeing the biggest share of listings with price drops. Indiana Business & Health: Telix began U.S. commercial availability of its FDA-approved brain cancer imaging drug Pixclara, with first doses administered in Indianapolis and Cleveland. Local Housing Gap: Indiana groups are trying to fill a shrinking transitional housing pipeline for women, arguing the middle step is slipping as funding priorities shift. Elections & Compliance: Indiana voters face a registration deadline as early voting ramps up and mail-ballot rules tighten in nearby states.

Diesel relief in Indiana: State Reps. Michael Aylesworth and Kendell Culp, plus Bob Heaton and Tim Yocum, praised Gov. Mike Braun’s move to suspend special fuel restrictions for off-road diesel to help farmers hit by record-high diesel prices during harvest. Fuel tax ripple effects: Ohio drivers saw gas prices drop after a three-month gas tax suspension, while Indiana’s own gas-tax holiday and diesel waivers continue to shape pump prices. PFAS cleanup credit: Indiana American Water customers are set for another October bill credit ($11.65) tied to PFAS settlement proceeds. Rural housing push: Accelerate Rural Indiana says it has $50 million in state funding lined up to build hundreds of homes and create hundreds of jobs across Shelby, Rush, and Decatur counties and Batesville. IPS charter contract talks: Indianapolis Public Schools is seeking changes to charge Innovation Network charter schools more for services like transportation and facilities support, aiming to renegotiate contracts amid a budget crunch. Statehouse voting logistics: In Wayne County, in-person absentee voting has begun with courthouse hours and sample ballots posted by precinct. Legal fight over 9/11 funds: Indiana AG Jackley joined a coalition urging the U.S. Supreme Court to release frozen Taliban funds for 9/11 victims and families.

Data Centers & AI: Amazon AWS CEO Matt Garman warned that local opposition to data centers could cause “irreversible” harm to the U.S. AI lead, arguing common concerns about water use and electricity bills are overstated and urging communities to work with developers. Insurance & Weather Risk: A new look at Midwest storms says hail is driving home insurance crises, with Wisconsin seeing the steepest recent rate jumps—an issue that’s increasingly relevant for Indiana households. Utilities & Reliability: NIPSCO is facing scrutiny after a summer derecho outage; the utility says it’s reviewing storm response failures and is also opening winter energy assistance programs. Public Safety & Courts: Indiana voters will decide a constitutional amendment that would expand judges’ ability to deny bail for defendants deemed a substantial risk to others or the community. Elections: Indiana’s voter registration deadline for the Nov. 3 election is Monday, with early voting starting Tuesday. Business & Growth: Evansville celebrated a $60 million READI-backed mixed-use project, The Vault on Main, aimed at adding housing and downtown commercial space. Manufacturing & Labor: Ohio’s “Made in Appalachia” program targets workforce gaps by training people in recovery for manufacturing jobs.

Data Centers in Indiana: Kokomo mayor Tyler Moore says Digital Realty is proposing a 476-acre data center campus at Industrial Park North, targeting 2033 operations and an estimated $1.4B–$1.7B investment, with three buildings totaling about 3M square feet and no city tax abatement. Utilities & Housing Costs: A Porter County candidate forum highlighted NIPSCO rate pressure, with a 1,000-kilowatt-hour bill rising about 92% since 2016, and lawmakers debating rate caps, disconnections, and private equity limits. Public Health: The CDC reported an alfalfa sprout outbreak now tied to 76 illnesses across 16 states as seed-lot recalls widen. Food Safety: Trader Joe’s and Walmart frozen berry recalls expanded after an E. coli concern, listing specific lot codes sold in Indiana and 25 other states. Healthcare Policy: A JAMA study found postpartum GLP-1 starts among privately insured women jumped nearly 24-fold from 2018 to 2025, while breastfeeding safety data remains limited. International Business: Reports say U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to send a congressional and business delegation to Zimbabwe as ties shift toward trade and critical minerals.

Indiana Business & Economy: Lilly’s experimental obesity drug EloraTZP beat its own Zepbound in a head-to-head mid-stage trial, with the top dose producing 23.3% average weight loss over 48 weeks versus 14.8% for Zepbound, plus larger A1C reductions in patients with diabetes. Health & Consumer Watch: Doctors renewed warnings about energy drinks for kids and teens, citing high caffeine and potential heart and nervous-system risks after a coalition urged the Big 12 to pause a Monster Energy sponsorship and asked the NCAA to review youth-focused marketing. Sports Betting & Local Interest: The Colts open NFL London play against the Commanders on Oct. 4, with market pricing showing Indianapolis as the favorite in prediction markets and multiple sportsbooks pushing new-customer promos around the matchup. Policy & Environment: The Trump administration’s proposed repeal of the federal Roadless Rule would affect millions of acres nationwide, including parts of Indiana’s Hoosier National Forest, raising concerns about losing protections for roadless areas. Tech & Taxes: Meta is reportedly treating AI data centers as “pilot models” for tax purposes to claim research credits, a strategy that could face IRS pushback.

Housing & Tariffs: A Reuters/Ipsos snapshot shows voters flag “cost of living” as the top midterm issue, while a separate report ties higher building-material costs to Trump-era tariffs—pushing up the price to build a home and squeezing big-box home improvement stocks. Indiana Procurement: Gov. Mike Braun launched an Indiana Small Business Program to expand state contracting access, building on “Buy Indiana” to help more Hoosier firms win state purchases. Cybersecurity & Seniors: A study ranks Alaska safest for senior cyber-scam losses, with Indiana cited among the higher-loss states—another reminder that fraud prevention is a business and household issue. Property Tax Relief Push: Indiana lawmakers pitched a plan to eliminate property taxes on owner-occupied homes via local income-tax credits, while local officials warned about revenue impacts. Local Education & Literacy: Indiana districts report gains tied to earlier reading supports ahead of IREAD, with one district citing near-universal passage rates. Public Safety Tech: A Washington Post investigation alleges misuse of Flock license-plate cameras by officers, raising questions about oversight of automated surveillance.

Data Centers & AI Power Push: Amazon says it will invest more than $1 billion over five years in U.S. data-center communities and promises steps to address electricity and water impacts, as local opposition grows. Indiana Economic Development: The I-74 Business Corridor launched an Ag Activation initiative to turn its 2023 regional agriculture strategy into new agribusiness and food-manufacturing opportunities. Energy Costs for Hoosier Farmers: Diesel prices are hitting the Midwest corn belt hard, with farmers facing higher fuel and broader input costs during harvest. School Safety & Funding: Gov. Mike Braun announced a statewide anonymous school safety tip line launching in January 2027, with 24/7 monitoring at no cost to participating K-12 schools. Education Outcomes: Greater Jasper schools reviewed redesigned ILEARN results and heard a $50.6 million 2027 budget proposal. State Politics & Courts: Indiana AG Todd Rokita sued the state disciplinary commission, alleging retaliation and disclosing confidential information, while taxpayers reportedly paid $491,508 in private legal fees. Local Business & Housing: Fort Wayne-area housing affordability pressures remain acute as mortgage rates and prices squeeze buyers.

Amazon Data Centers & Local Impact: Amazon says it will invest more than $1B over five years in communities hosting data centers, pairing the push for AI infrastructure with education and workforce funding while warning local opposition could hurt U.S. competitiveness. PFAS Legal Fight: Sixteen states sued Corteva’s seed spinoff Vylor in Indiana court, alleging asset transfers were designed to dodge PFAS liabilities tied to DuPont. Workforce Funding: U.S. Sen. Todd Young highlighted a $6.74M Department of Labor grant for Indiana workforce training in shipbuilding, advanced manufacturing and nuclear energy. Indiana Housing/Schools: The Lilly Endowment’s school-building donations are expanding facilities in Indianapolis-area districts, but also raising questions about how the money is shaping local decisions. Consumer/Competition: The FTC settled with Southern Glazer’s over claims it discriminated against smaller alcohol sellers under the Robinson-Patman Act. Local Business & Government: Knight Township updated mileage and per diem reimbursement rules for 2027, setting mileage at 64 cents per gallon. Sports (Indiana angle): Indiana football heads to Rutgers after a shaky home performance, while Rose-Hulman’s fall career fair drew nearly 250 employers seeking talent.

Fuel Prices & Taxes: Indiana Gov. Mike Braun renewed the state’s gas tax suspension and expanded relief for farmers by lifting limits on untaxed, off-road diesel use—aimed at easing record diesel costs heading into harvest. School Safety Funding: Tipton Community School Corporation received $86,000, the biggest award among four districts in Carroll and Tipton counties, through Indiana’s Secured School Safety Grant program. Data Centers & Local Impact: Amazon Web Services pledged to invest more than $1 billion over five years in U.S. communities hosting data centers, pairing the money with commitments tied to energy and water use amid growing local opposition. Commercial Real Estate Banking: Farm Bureau Bank added Jake Kennedy as Commercial Real Estate Market Executive, focusing on CRE lending and relationship development. Indiana Business & Agriculture: Indiana Farm Bureau awarded $1,000 grants to 10 women-owned ag-related small businesses, supporting training, tech upgrades and equipment purchases. Transportation/Policy Watch: States are also moving to curb diesel and gasoline prices, including Ohio’s 90-day fuel tax suspension and other measures targeting red-dyed diesel rules. Sports Business Angle: The Indiana Fever’s season ended as A’ja Wilson led the Aces to a 94-83 Game 3 win, sending Las Vegas to the WNBA semifinals.

Drug Pricing/Antitrust: Indiana AGs joined a coalition seeking court approval of a $400 million settlement with Sandoz over alleged generic-drug conspiracies to inflate prices and limit competition, with the deal totaling about $469 million when combined with earlier resolutions. PFAS Liability Fight: A bipartisan group of states sued Corteva in Indiana state court over its Vylor spinoff, arguing it moved “crown jewels” to avoid PFAS “forever chemical” cleanup liabilities. Housing/READI: Gov. Mike Braun highlighted READI 2.0 housing momentum, including a $7.5 million forgivable loan in Richmond for the Smith Hill development and new READI-backed projects in Pike, Dearborn and Marshall counties expected to add at least 424 homes. Energy Grid/Transmission: Indiana Michigan Power extended the public comment period for its Lulu-Sorenson 765-kV transmission improvements project to Nov. 13. Local Business & Jobs: The Indiana Chamber named LaPorte its 2026 Yamaha Community of the Year, citing housing and economic development efforts tied to a new Microsoft data center. Workforce/Community: Kokomo’s mayor touted industrial expansion, new housing and downtown investment during the city’s State of the City address.

Indiana Energy & Utilities: Lawmakers grilled NIPSCO over August storm outages, and the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor approved an IURC investigation into NIPSCO’s restoration practices. State Budgeting: Vincennes advanced a proposed $23.7 million 2027 budget, including property-tax rates and major spending for fire/EMS, economic development, and pensions. Fuel Costs & Relief: Gov. Mike Braun extended Indiana’s gas tax pause through Nov. 4 and loosened dyed-diesel rules for farmers during harvest. Healthcare Costs & Consumer Claims: Michigan AG Dana Nessel urged consumers to file for compensation tied to multistate generic drug price-inflation settlements. Workforce & Education: IU South Bend and sites across Indiana are hosting College Goal Sunday to help families complete FAFSA; separately, Workforce Pell is set to let Ivy Tech accept Pell for an eight-week clinical medical assistant program. Ag Education: NIPSCO and the Indiana FFA Foundation launched a $100,000 grant initiative supporting agricultural education and student leadership. Local Business & Growth: Frankfort voted 5-2 to back DataOne’s proposed $7 billion data center. Disaster Assistance: FEMA expanded Individual and Public Assistance eligibility to additional Indiana counties after August storms.

Data Centers & Local Votes: Frankfort voted 5-2 to approve DataOne’s proposed $7 billion data center, but residents and candidates say public support is thin and permits still depend on additional stipulations and votes. Public Safety & Fraud: Indianapolis saw six scam reports for the week ending Sept. 19, down from 18 the prior week, with employment scams leading and total reported losses at $1,842.48. Workforce & Education: Indiana’s inaugural School Fitness Month drew thousands of students statewide, with a new Governor’s Fitness Test aimed at boosting activity and health habits. Digital Government: Indiana earned an A- grade in the 2026 Digital States Survey for digital services and privacy, plus an award for data management. Economic Development: Meijer opened a new Fishers grocery store, highlighting Indiana-made products and local donations tied to youth and community needs. Business Tech: Visual Components launched FactoryLens, bringing NVIDIA-powered digital twin capabilities into manufacturing simulation workflows. Energy Costs: Indiana’s weekly gas-price updates continued to track diesel and premium rates across counties, reflecting ongoing volatility in fuel markets.

NIPSCO Storm Response: Northwest Indiana residents and officials pressed lawmakers on NIPSCO’s handling of August derecho outages, citing communication failures and long restoration delays for about 375,000 customers. Local Tax Overhaul: Indiana counties are starting to map out how to replace property-tax revenue under SEA 1, with a new Municipal Unit Strategic Taskforce process underway and concerns about service cuts. School Funding Pressure: Superintendents say property tax reform is already forcing staffing and support reductions, while voters face more school referendums this fall. Data Centers & Power: A new coalition of major AI firms, investors and construction unions is pushing states—including Indiana—for stricter standards instead of moratoriums as communities worry about electricity, water and local impacts. Workforce & Training: Fort Wayne startup Azara Energy was selected for 16 Tech’s Traction program to prototype intelligent thermal-protection outlets for EV and industrial markets. Healthcare & Consumer Policy: Indiana retailers have not yet been fined under SNAP “junk food” restrictions, and the U.S. Education Department approved Workforce Pell programs in Florida. Community & Business Events: Taste of Columbus returns Oct. 7 to raise funds for Love Chapel, and Guggman Haus is hosting Books, Brews & Boos with local horror authors.

Opportunity Zones 2.0: Brookville was selected for Indiana’s Opportunity Zone 2.0 nomination, with 126 census tracts submitted for the 2027–2036 cycle and new designations set to begin Jan. 1, 2027. Quality-of-Place Investing: Gov. Mike Braun launched the Indiana Quality of Place Learning Partnership, a two-year effort to measure the lasting impact of community investments, starting with a national summit in Columbus in October. Power Outage Accountability: Northwest Indiana residents and officials criticized NIPSCO’s storm response after Aug. 11 outages hit about 375,000 customers, citing communication breakdowns and execution problems. Farm & Rural Costs: State Rep. Jim Pressel urged Gov. Braun to let farmers use untaxed off-road diesel in semi-trucks through harvest, arguing diesel prices near $7 a gallon are straining operations. Home Equity Basics: A guide breaks down when a home equity loan vs. a HELOC makes sense, depending on whether costs are one-time or ongoing. Education & Workforce: Tri-County School Corporation expanded work-based learning opportunities and named a new WBL coordinator, while an ISBA award recognized long-serving board member Robert Gerber. Local Business/Community: Amish Acres’ newest owner faced community backlash and accusations amid repeated delays to reopening.