Holcomb: Indiana not being left behind in auto evolution
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowGov. Eric Holcomb says recent investment in Indiana from General Motors speaks to the state’s perseverance and history in the automobile industry. GM said it will invest $632 million in its Fort Wayne Assembly operations, supporting the production of next generation internal combustion engine pickup trucks, as well as a more than $3 billion electric vehicle battery plant at the Indiana Enterprise Center in New Carlisle.
“We are truly a leader not being left behind when it comes to the mobility transition that’s occurring globally,” said Holcomb.
In an exclusive interview on Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, the governor said GM’s investments are indicative of growth in multiple sectors.
“When you think about the industry transitions that are occurring in defense and construction materials and mobility, billions of dollars of investment has been occurring in the state of Indiana,” he said. “So, it’s almost like the table’s tilting toward our state when you think about steel production, when you think about cement production, when you think about defense with Rolls-Royce and Saab and GE Aviation, when you think about SkyWater semiconductors, we are building the supply chain and the ecosystem where businesses, because of our proud workforce, want to be a part of this success.”
Holcomb touted Indiana as the largest steel producing state in the country. The state also now has the second-largest cement plant in North America with the opening of the new Heidelberg Materials cement plant in the Lawrence County town of Mitchell.
“These are Midwestern powerhouses; we’re shipping this stuff all over the country. So again, the hiring continues, and these are high-wage, not just jobs when you’re talking about the 1,700 jobs up in New Carlisle or the 1,000 construction jobs, these are high-wage careers. So advantage Indiana – we continue to see a lot of checkered flags.”
Holcomb recently completed his 15th trade mission as governor with a trip to Portugal and France. Among the many topics discussed was the transition to more clean energy sources such as hydrogen and nuclear.
The governor said connectivity among international countries will be key to everything.
“We were able to make our pitch again for another transatlantic flight into into Paris. It’s critically important that Indiana remain connected to the marketplace. And once we get you here, you know, we can we can ship your goods everywhere. But we want to expand our map.”
Holcomb said he is confident that another transatlantic flight could be possible in the near future.
Additionally, the governor said he is excited for the future of both Indiana University and Purdue University, which recently approved the realignment of the IUPUI campus in Indianapolis.
“To get more graduates staying here in the state of Indiana, to have this urban center, to have an engineering institute come out of it. This is this bodes really well for the next 50 years of Indiana.”