AGP Executive Report

Flood Recovery & Business Impact: Indiana’s historic flooding has killed at least seven people and left tens of thousands without power, with NIPSCO reporting about 115,000 customers in the dark Monday and aiming for full restoration by Friday; local businesses and residents are still dealing with damage as water recedes. Local Economy & Hiring: Knox County’s economic development team is preparing for Amazon’s Vincennes fulfillment center, targeting a job fair as the site is expected to hire about 170 workers for the Christmas-season timeline. Telehealth Hearing Tech: ELEHEAR launched ElePro Plus, a $99 per-session live tele-audiology service for OTC hearing device owners, offering a 45-minute remote assessment and device tuning. Real Estate Income: Flagship Communities REIT announced an August 2026 cash distribution of US$0.0545 per unit, payable around Sept. 15 to holders of record Aug. 31. Sports Business Watch: The Colts signaled they plan to keep three quarterbacks, with assistant GM Ed Dodds saying Anthony Richardson is likely to stay as Indianapolis prioritizes depth.

Flood Recovery & Federal Aid: Indiana’s historic flooding has killed at least five people, with more storms expected and FEMA assistance now available after Gov. Mike Braun’s disaster emergency and a presidential emergency declaration. Power & Business Disruption: Northwest Indiana remains heavily impacted by outages, with schools and other services delayed or operating on generators as crews work to restore power. Local Relief Funding: The Colts, Pacers, Fever and Noblesville Boom pledged $250,000 to the American Red Cross for central Indiana flood relief, supporting shelters, food and recovery supplies. Nonprofit Finance Snapshots: New IRS Form 990-based rankings show many Indiana nonprofits relying heavily on government grants in 2024, including Wells County Council on Aging (Bluffton), Poe Community Volunteer Fire Dept (Fort Wayne), Impact Evansville (Evansville), Community Coordinated Child Care (South Bend) and Southwest Barth Volunteer Fire Dept (Columbus). Regulatory Watch: IDEM rescheduled a virtual wetlands permit hearing for Hobart to Aug. 19 after storm-related power outages. Consumer Fraud Signals: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Chesterton tied for seventh in Indiana for scam reports in July, with online purchase scams driving most reported losses.

Disaster Relief: President Trump approved a federal emergency declaration for Indiana after historic White River flooding killed at least five people and triggered hundreds of evacuations in the Indianapolis area, with FEMA offering 75% coverage for eligible emergency response costs across 53 counties. Public Safety & Recovery: Indianapolis officials said rescues were underway as water levels kept rising, while local disasters spread across more than a dozen counties along river corridors. Manufacturing & Jobs: Gov. Mike Braun announced Vulcraft (Nucor) will invest more than $59 million to expand operations in St. Joe, adding up to 20 high-wage jobs by end of 2027. Education & Workforce: Indiana lawmakers and officials highlighted improving literacy outcomes, with 2026 IREAD pass rates for third graders rising for a fifth straight year. Housing: Attica received a $1.7 million low-interest loan to expand housing supply through the Indiana Finance Authority’s infrastructure program. Consumer Watch: Walmart-linked tomato bisque soup kits were recalled over possible listeria contamination, affecting products sold in 29 states.

Historic Flooding & Federal Aid: Indiana’s White River and other waterways surged again, with at least five deaths reported and dozens rescued as officials urged evacuations along the river corridor in Indianapolis; Gov. Mike Braun says President Trump plans to approve federal assistance and has requested a presidential emergency declaration. Utility Safety After Gunfire: In Gary, NIPSCO restoration work was paused after a utility vehicle was shot at, prompting Indiana State Police patrols as the utility still faces major outage impacts after severe storms. AI National Security Push: Sen. Jim Banks urged the Trump administration to back open-weight AI with concrete incentives for U.S. builders, warning Chinese advances could later be used against American interests. Food Safety Recall: Walmart recalled more than 3,000 Marketside Tomato Bisque soup kits sold in 29 states, including Indiana, after FDA flagged potential listeria contamination. Poultry Trade Update: Indiana regained HPAI-free status after 28 days without new detections, a milestone expected to reopen international trade for the state’s poultry industry. Healthcare Expansion: IU Health says its new Fort Wayne hospital remains on track for a May 1, 2027 opening, with recruitment underway for about 270 nurses. Business Watch: Shake Shack plans to open 11 new locations in August, including an Indianapolis-area restaurant.

Veterans Tax Relief: Indiana expands property tax relief for eligible disabled veterans and surviving spouses, including a new 100% assessed-value homestead deduction for totally disabled veterans and a shift from deductions to direct tax credits starting with the 2026 assessment year. Power Restoration & Storm Fallout: NIPSCO says 172,000 customers still lack power after the derecho, calling it the largest outage event in its history, with restoration targeted to be about 90% by Aug. 18 and 100% by Aug. 21. Flood Recovery Hits Local Businesses: Metamora begins cleanup after Whitewater River flooding damaged shops and decades of inventory, while two nearby veterans describe major losses and health concerns as they assess damage. Tariff Refunds Help Small Firms: A Nashville-area GPS supply company says tariff refunds from the Supreme Court fight helped it stay afloat, highlighting how smaller Indiana importers may struggle without in-house compliance. Food Safety Recall: Kettle Cuisine recalled Walmart Marketside tomato bisque soup kits in 29 states over possible Listeria contamination, with no confirmed illnesses reported yet. Indiana Economic Spotlight: The Hambletonian Society selected Indiana’s Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Anderson to host the prestigious Hambletonian race for three years starting in 2027.

Food Safety: Walmart shoppers in Indiana should check their pantry: Kettle Cuisine recalled Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kits (14 oz, UPC 194346474004, best-by Aug. 22, 2026) after presumptive Listeria findings; no confirmed illnesses reported. Public Health: The FDA and CDC expanded their cyclosporiasis probe tied to Taylor Farms’ Mexican iceberg lettuce, with FDA/CDC teams starting onsite inspection and sampling at the Guanajuato facility as cases climb across 17 states, including Indiana. Severe Weather & Energy: Northwest Indiana is still dealing with major storm fallout, with nearly 175,000 customers without power as NIPSCO works toward full restoration by next Friday. Flooding: The Whitewater River at Brookville hit “historic rises,” driving evacuations and rescues in Harrison and West Harrison, Indiana/Ohio border areas. Local Business/Development: INDOT is set to start the State Road 2 diverging diamond interchange near New Carlisle, with lane closures and Strawberry Road shutdowns beginning next week. Education: Indiana third-grade reading scores rose for a fifth straight year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Historic Preservation: Indianapolis’ Historic Preservation Commission halted a demolition petition for a former Martin University church, granting temporary historic recognition. Sports Business: The Chicago Bears reiterated their “sole focus” on building a world-class stadium in Hammond, Indiana, while keeping the team name “Chicago Bears.”

Severe Weather & Recovery: Indiana’s storm aftermath is still brutal, with NIPSCO reporting the largest outage event in its history and more than 230,000 customers without power as crews work to restore service; the Indiana National Guard has been deployed for debris removal, while evacuations continue along the Whitewater River as flooding worsens. Flood Risk & Public Safety: Officials are urging residents to leave quickly in mandatory evacuation zones in parts of southeast Indiana and western Hamilton County, as rescues and door-to-door alerts ramp up. Manufacturing Jobs: Vulcraft (Nucor) plans a $59 million expansion in St. Joe, adding up to 20 jobs by 2027 and producing new steel grating products. Business & Policy: SBA chief Kelly Loeffler and Sen. Todd Young discussed expanding federal small-business lending limits during an Indiana visit, focusing on affordability and investment certainty. Health & Food Safety: The FDA says the cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce now involves 17 states, including Indiana, with case counts climbing. Sports Business: The Chicago Bears say they won’t change the team name even if they build a stadium in Hammond, keeping “Chicago Bears” branding while pushing Indiana stadium plans. Cybersecurity for SMBs: A practical business tip roundup highlights steps small firms can take to strengthen defenses against cyberattacks.

Bears Stadium Update: Chicago Bears chairman George McCaskey says the team won’t change its name if it builds in Indiana, insisting “We will be the Chicago Bears” while “our focus is on Hammond.” Bears CEO Kevin Warren adds the franchise is now concentrating on Indiana after Illinois failed to pass a tax solution. Flood & Power Recovery: Indiana is still dealing with catastrophic flooding after severe storms and tornadoes, with Gov. Mike Braun declaring a statewide disaster emergency; NIPSCO says power restoration is progressing but some outages could last longer. Cyber & Healthcare Business: Cook Medical disclosed a July 2 cyber incident tied to social engineering that gave an outside party access to some systems, while saying operations and patient care were not impacted. Nonprofit Leadership: Arts United named Julie Hill as its new president and CEO, starting Sept. 21. Consumer Safety: Oma’s Pride recalled 639 bags of frozen raw dog food in multiple states, including Indiana, over possible salmonella contamination. Local Fraud Watch: Indiana AG Todd Rokita warned Hoosiers about storm-related scams as communities recover. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports show scattered low-price pockets across Indiana for E85/E15 and diesel, reflecting continued volatility in fuel costs.

Severe Weather & Power: Catastrophic storms and flooding hit Indiana and Ohio, leaving hundreds of thousands without power and forcing school closures and delays across the region. Public Safety Tech: Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith says he’s pushing lawmakers to limit police use of Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers amid mass-surveillance concerns. Education Governance: Indianapolis Public Education Corporation’s new oversight board is drafting an ethics code and setting executive pay as it takes on IPS finances and operations. Childcare Rules: Indiana’s proposed childcare regulation changes aim to reduce some credential requirements while keeping core health-and-safety protections, drawing debate from providers. Manufacturing & Jobs: SK hynix plans an Aug. 27 groundbreaking for a major Indiana advanced chip packaging plant, as the company expands AI-related capacity. Food Safety: Whole Foods expanded a salmonella recall tied to jalapeños distributed across multiple states, including Indiana. Banking: First Commonwealth Bank promoted Susan Fillhart to manage its Punxsutawney Plaza branch. Local Economy: Indiana road and bridge groups renewed calls for long-term transportation funding as the gasoline tax suspension continues.

Franchising Expansion: Another Nine says it’s completed its first year of franchising, awarding 80+ territories in 16 states and signing 33 franchise owners, with growth targets including Indianapolis and other major metros. Energy & Courts: Indiana AG Dave Sunday is part of a 18-state coalition urging a federal appeals court to keep Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline open, arguing pipeline safety authority is federal and state action would raise prices. Storm Recovery & Power: After Tuesday’s severe storms, Northwest Indiana faced the biggest NIPSCO outage in company history, with more than 270,000 customers without power and long gas-station lines as communities dig out. Local Government & Homelessness: Fort Wayne will collect $2,500 from Hendricks Behavioral Health after the provider agreed to settle citations tied to the city’s homeless relocation ordinance. Food Safety: Whole Foods joined a widening recall of jalapeño products tied to Coast Citrus Distributors and a multistate salmonella outbreak, with Indiana among affected states. Business & Manufacturing: Kimball Electronics reported fiscal 2026 results and highlighted cash generation and debt paydown, while Winnebago’s board approved a quarterly dividend increase.

Semiconductor Investment: SK hynix will hold a groundbreaking Aug. 27 for a $3.87 billion Indiana advanced packaging and R&D plant in West Lafayette, targeting high bandwidth memory for AI. EV Supply Chain: Samsung SDI will buy out GM’s 49.99% stake in their Indiana battery joint venture, ending the partnership as EV demand growth slows. Healthcare Costs & Access: Hospitals are pushing more upfront payments, and Indiana’s Medicaid work requirement could put 200,000 to 300,000 low-income Hoosiers at risk starting Jan. 1, 2027. Drug Enforcement: Eli Lilly filed six lawsuits over alleged illegal sales of experimental obesity drug retatrutide, escalating action against compounding pharmacies, medical spas and online sellers. Indiana Education & Workforce Research: Ball State economist Michael Hicks is leaving after 19 years to lead Shenandoah University’s combined College of Business and Technology. Local Housing: Allen County is moving toward selling a former Byron Health property (about 62 acres) after an $8 million appraisal, with developers already showing interest. Road Funding: Indiana builders warn the state must reinstate gas taxes and find new revenue as the suspension is set to cost $533 million in road-funding. Storm Fallout: Severe weather hit northwest Indiana, knocking out power and disrupting fuel access as residents scramble for supplies.

Storm Damage in NW Indiana: A deadly storm in Portage leveled a home and killed one person, with reports of a possible explosion as responders faced hazardous conditions and impassable roads. Fuel Prices Watch: GasBuddy data for the week ending Aug. 1 found one Boone County station selling E15 for $3.37—the lowest in the county—while Indiana’s E15 average was $3.47; diesel and other grades varied across the region. Housing Funding: Elkhart received a $10 million low-interest state loan to expand housing infrastructure, including a plan to redevelop an abandoned mall into a mixed-use project with about 140 units. ICE Enforcement Tech: A DHS notice says ICE could buy “conductive distraction” gloves that deliver painful electric shocks, drawing fresh criticism from civil rights advocates. AI in Indiana Higher Ed: IU and Purdue are adding AI requirements, with IU’s Kelley School making GenAI 101 and a 201-level AI course part of the curriculum for incoming students. Nonprofit Grants Data: New local rankings highlight big swings in government grant revenue for Indiana nonprofits, including sharp year-over-year increases in cities like Muncie, Terre Haute, and Evansville.

Cybersecurity & Water Infrastructure: Suspected Iranian-linked hackers targeted U.S. water utilities across at least a dozen states, highlighting how many small systems still run with weak protections and internet-connected equipment. Indiana Energy & Costs: Gov. Mike Braun declared a new statewide energy emergency and extended his suspension of Indiana’s gas taxes through Sept. 5, citing fresh global shipping disruptions and fuel-price pressure. EV Batteries in Indiana: Samsung SDI will buy out GM’s 49.99% stake in the New Carlisle battery joint venture, ending the JV and positioning the plant for broader battery demand, including energy storage, while Samsung and GM keep collaborating on next-gen prismatic cells. Local Transportation: INDOT is shifting traffic on Evansville’s Lloyd Expressway West Side into a new “final phase,” with one lane each direction between Posey County Line Road and Red Bank Road. Public Health & Food Safety: Taylor Farms recalled jalapeño-containing products tied to a multistate salmonella outbreak, with items sold in Indiana and many other states. Healthcare Policy: FSSA is seeking a federal waiver to reinstate HIP cost-sharing for able-bodied adults on Medicaid, potentially bringing point-of-service copays back.

Midwest Multifamily Momentum: Outside investors are eyeing apartment markets in the middle of the country as supply constraints and strong demand keep rents climbing, with Yardi Matrix pointing to solid July growth in places like Chicago and the Twin Cities. Bloomington Talent Pipeline: Amplify Bloomington is running “Startup Summer” and related programs aimed at keeping students, interns, and founders engaged locally—an effort to close the jobs-versus-workers gap. Small-Business Hiring Signal: NFIB’s July Jobs Report for Indiana shows the Small Business Employment Index rebounded to 102.1, and hiring plans rose to their highest level since 2022 even as owners still struggle to find qualified workers. Local Government & Public Safety: Owen County approved buying 18 acres for a new jail site on S.R. 46W, with remaining details still being worked out. Food Safety Impact on Retail: Taylor Farms recalled 20 jalapeño products tied to a Salmonella concern, affecting major retailers and restaurant chains across 26 states. Indiana Health Funding: University of Evansville’s mental health clinic won a $250,000 United Way grant to expand services for people facing financial barriers. Utility Oversight Watch: Indiana Medicaid finances improved—FSSA says it’s “back in black”—but officials warn the state still faces an unsustainable long-term Medicaid cost path.

School Finance Referendum Watch: Hoosiers face a historic November ballot year with 37 school districts seeking operating referendums, driven by property-tax pressure and changes tied to Senate Enrolled Act 1—leaving homeowners weighing higher taxes versus potential school cuts. Political Money & Corruption Ties: Two campaign firms linked to men convicted of corruption have landed business in major Illinois and Chicago races, including spending connected to Gov. JB Pritzker and the Chicago Teachers Union. Local Economic Development: Danville won a $1.371 million state site readiness grant for sewer infrastructure at West Newell Road and Bowman Avenue after a planned Hyster-Yale relocation to Indiana left the original deal behind. Public Safety Tech: Indianapolis and Marion County have spent about $1.6 million since 2024 on Flock license-plate reader cameras, with contract details still leaving key deployment numbers unclear. Food Supply Chain Risk: Taylor Farms recalled jalapeño-containing prepared foods after a salmonella alert tied to jalapeños; retailers including Walmart, Target, Whole Foods and Kroger are affected. Consumer Data Pricing Limits: States including Connecticut, Maryland and New Jersey moved to restrict “surveillance pricing,” limiting how personal data can be used to set individual prices. Energy & Grid Pressure for Indiana Ag: At an Ag Policy Summit, farmers and officials flagged rising electricity costs and data-center demand, debating how new rules and grid upgrades will affect affordability. Workforce & Brain Drain: A report warns Indiana risks losing college-educated workers, arguing higher ed and training pipelines must better match where talent goes.

Indiana Policy Roundtable: Lawmakers debated Medicaid waiver redetermination delays for children with disabilities, Gov. Braun’s extended gas tax holiday, and an Indianapolis road-funding fight during “All INdiana Politics.” Utility Oversight: A new Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission appointment drew scrutiny as lawmakers and officials continue reshaping oversight. Energy & Cost Pressure: Indiana’s gas tax holiday extension is set against concerns prices could jump as the suspension ends. Regional Planning: NIRPC is updating its NWI 2050+ plan and is asking residents for input through November, including transit-oriented development around the South Shore Line. Local Business & Community: Evansville’s Indiana Black Expo chapter and a local barbershop hosted a back-to-school event with free haircuts and supplies, while Fishers’ Pure Green franchise is bringing health-focused food and drinks to the community. Real Estate Tension: Crown Hill residents are pushing back on a proposed 99-unit apartment project at 34th & Illinois, arguing for more retail and grocery space. Education Funding Vote: Shakamak’s school district is moving toward a November referendum to fund daily operations, safety, and academic programming.