“When you see a problem, solve it.”
That’s the advice Gov. Eric Holcomb gave local leaders Oct. 3 to conclude a fireside chat outside Reid Health’s Lingle Hall. The state, Holcomb said, relies on innovative people in all 92 counties, people who own businesses and are connected to their communities to grow, to improve and to inspire the necessary changes and adaptations.
And that’s not limited only to local issues. Holcomb said statewide input is wanted and needed to govern from Indianapolis.
“I would encourage you to understand that the statehouse in general functions faster and more efficiently with your input,” Holcomb said to more than 100 people at the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event.
The governor leaves office Jan. 13, and, yes, he knows how many days remain. Answering questions from SugarCreek Packing Company’s Ron Holbrook, Holcomb offered the advice for the future and looked back at his nearly eight years as governor.
Good buy-in helps communities snap together the multiple puzzle pieces that form the community and its growth, Holcomb said. While governors come and go, local leadership and local relationships carry communities forward, and Holcomb said communities should be bold.
“You’re either at the table, or you’re on the menu,” he said.
Indiana often has been the diner rather than the dinner. Holcomb said the state has greatly increased capital investment through the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. From 2005 through 2016, it was $49 billion, but from 2022 through the third quarter this year, it’s been $90 billion. He credited a change from transactional to strategic thinking — a long-term vision with short-term actions — with development victories.
“What do we have to do to win the deal?” Holcomb said.
And, that’s changed. Holcomb said that early during his governorship companies never asked about trail systems when researching possible locations, but now they do. Building a community leads to economic development.
“It’s about the culture of the company, and the community is part of that culture,” Holcomb said.
In addition, workers now often choose where to live, then find a job, rather than securing employment and moving to that location. The community sells those people on where they’ll live and hopefully retire.
State initiatives have assisted community development. Holcomb pointed to the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) and READI2.0 programs that have invested $50 million in Wayne County’s eight-county region, the Community Crossings program that provides state funding for local road and bridge projects and Health First Indiana that increased by 1,500% the state’s funding of local health departments.
“There are projects blooming all over the state of Indiana,” Holcomb said.
He credits his team with the work to bring those and other efforts together and said he’s gratified to see improvements to communities throughout the state.
As his time winds down, Holcomb understands the power of friendships and the value of learning. He said he learns every day and will keep learning until his last day.
“You need to be learning, but you also need to be leading,” he said, “and that requires listening.”
A version of this article appeared in the October 9 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.