More than 950 businesses have committed to create more than 117,000 jobs and invest more than $23 billion in their Indiana operations.
Commitments from international companies make up more than $8 billion in investment and more than 17,400 new jobs, which has ranked the state second in the nation per capita in attracting new jobs through foreign investment. (Global Locations Trends report by IBM Global Business Services - October 2009)
The average salary for new jobs commitments in 2009 was more than $43,500, or about $5,500 more per year than the average Hoosier salary.
Indiana ranks best in the Midwest and sixth overall in Area Development magazine's Top States for Doing Business study (October 2010)
Indiana ranks eighth in the nation for its business climate according to Site Selection magazine (November 2010)
The Tax Foundation's 2010 Business Tax Climate Index ranked Indiana first in the Midwest and 10th nationally. Rankings for nearby states were Illinois (23rd), Kentucky (19th), Michigan (17th), Ohio (46th), and Minnesota (43st)
The Tax Foundation ranks Indiana No.1 for lowest effective property tax rate of any state, estimated at 0.79 percent of income
Indiana has the lowest state government employment per capita of any state (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008 annual survey of public employment and payroll)
Clean energy jobs grew by nearly 18 percent between 1998 and 2007, ranking Indiana first in the industrial Midwest in overall job growth in the clean energy economy. (Pew Charitable Trusts- June 2009)
Indiana has the lowest business cost index in the Midwest and seventh lowest in the country. (Forbes - September 2009)
Indiana ranks first in the Midwest in the Milken Institute’s most recent “Cost of Doing Business Index," which is based on wage cost, tax burden, electricity cost, industrial rent cost and office rent cost.
Indiana is among the best states in the nation for business, ranking second in the Midwest and 16th nationally in Chief Executive magazine's fifth annual "Best & Worst States" survey. Options for businesses seeking to locate and expand in Indiana now include a headquarters relocation tax credit, single- factor sales apportionment, research and development tax credit, personal property tax exemption on IT equipment and patent income exemption.
Improvements in the business environment have allowed the state to reduce direct incentives to companies by nearly $30,000 per new job, resulting in quicker financial return on the state's investment of tax credits in new and expanding companies.
Workers' compensation premiums rates are lowest in the Midwest and second lowest in the nation. (Oregon Department of Consumer & Business Services- March 2009)
Venture Capital funding for Indiana companies averaged $39 million per year from 2001 - 2004 and has grown to an average of $94 million per year. (PricewaterhouseCooper/Thompson Reuters/NVCA MoneyTree Survey - 2009)
Indiana has had the first four honestly balanced annual budgets in nearly a decade.
The state went from a $700 million structural deficit in 2005 to $1.3 billion in reserves in 2009. These reserves are being used in our current two-year budget and have enabled Indiana to remain one of the few states in the black during the national economic downturn.
Property taxes have been cut by an average of more than 30 percent with homeowner property taxes currently capped at 1 percent of assessed value. Property tax caps began in 2009 and Hoosiers voted to make them a permanent part of the Indiana Constitution in November.
More than $760 million was paid back within three years to all K-12 schools, universities and local government units that were owed to them from the previous deficit spending.
Over $250 million in unnecessary spending was trimmed from state government and $190 million was saved by renegotiating 30 state contracts.
For the first time in state history, Indiana's credit rating was raised to AAA by the independent credit rating agency Standard & Poor's in 2008 and reaffirmed in 2009 becoming just one of 11 states to hold such a distinction. In 2010 two other major independent credit rating agencies, Fitch and Moody's, also raised Indiana's credit rating to AAA. Indiana is one of nine states that now have AAA credit ratings from all three agencies. (S&P Ratings Service - June 2009, Fitch and Moody's - April 2010)
More than 800 child caseworkers have been added, child support collections are up by $252 million, and child services waiting lists have been cut in half. The Annie E. Casey Foundation honored Governor Daniels for progress in child welfare reform. (November 2007)
The state's Rx for Indiana program has helped over 87 percent of the 330,000 Hoosiers who inquired about the program qualify for free or discounted prescription medications, bringing the total being assisted to more than 288,000 Hoosiers.
The average wait time at the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles is now less than 8 minutes with a 97 percent overall customer satisfaction rate. In 2008, the BMV received the International Customer Service Excellence A ward for excellence in customer service. (AAMVA - July 2008)
Indiana's Telecommunications Deregulation Act has made the state a national leader in telecom reform by connecting more Hoosiers than ever before to broadband Internet service and increased competition among carriers, resulting in lower prices, new investments and thousands of new jobs.
Education funding for K -12 tuition increased 12 percent in the first five years of the governor's administration, and funding for full-day kindergarten increased by nearly 600 percent.
More than 150 additional Indiana State Troopers patrol Indiana's roadways contributing to a 24 percent reduction in traffic casualties.
Governor Daniels was named Public Official of the Year for achievement in government service by Governing magazine (November 2008). In March 2008, Governing listed Indiana as the most improved state in its "Grading the States" assessment.
Indiana is the only state in the nation with a record-breaking funded $10 billion infrastructure improvement plan that includes the construction or renovation of more than 400 roads and bridges - all without raising taxes or borrowing money.
The Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) provides health insurance to over 50,000 low-income Hoosiers. HIP is available for uninsured adult Hoosiers 19 to 64 years old whose household income is 22 percent to 200 percent of the federal poverty level and who are not eligible for Medicaid. Participants have a Personal Wellness and Responsibility Account, known as a POWER Account. Contributions to the account are made by the state and participants, who are required to make a modest contribution based on their ability to pay (not to exceed 5 percent of gross annual income). Coverage for preventive services of up to $500 annually is included to encourage and reward Hoosiers for adopting healthy behaviors and utilizing the preventive measures of the plan, such as annual checkups.
Recent data demonstrates HIP's ability to improve health and encourage personal responsibility. Over 98 percent of individuals pay their POWER account payment on time. After six months of enrollment, emergency room utilization by members who make monthly POWER account contributions decreased by 15 percent. However, members that are not required to pay a monthly contribution to the POWER account only have a 5 percent decrease in emergency room utilization. HIP enrollees echoed these observations. In a survey at the end of year two, six in ten respondents said they now think differently about how or where they receive health care.
State government puts an average of $1.9 billion annually back into Indiana's economy through the Buy Indiana program which directs state agencies to purchase goods and services from Indiana businesses. In Fiscal Year 2009,85 percent of state government procured goods and services were purchased from Indiana companies.
The state has launched a major conservation initiative to acquire 43,000 acres of river corridor along 94 miles of the Wabash River and Sugar Creek in west central Indiana and another 26,000 acres along the Muscatatuck River in southern Indiana. Ducks Unlimited is a partner in the project.
The state has acquired title or conservation easements to protect more than 34,000 acres of wetlands and other natural resources.
Indiana now has the third most E85 gasoline pumps of any state.
Indiana has become a leader in the production of green energy and was ranked second in the nation in adding new commercial wind capacity in 2009. (American Wind Energy Association)
Indiana's trails network has grown by more than 50 percent over the past four years. Trails miles open to the public have increased from 1,542 miles in 2006 to 2,348 miles. This is an increase of 806 miles of trails open to the public, and more than 230 more miles of trails are currently being developed or acquired. Ninety-one percent of Hoosiers are within 7.5 miles of a trail, up from 83 percent in 2006 (October 2010)
Indiana’s adult obesity rate leveled off between 2005-2008 (27 percent) through a focused effort to promote health with improved nutrition and increased activity among Hoosiers. During that same time period, Indiana’s national obesity ranking has fallen from 10th to 23rd.
Governor Daniels was recognized by the Manhattan Institute's Center for Civic Innovation for his innovative policy initiatives which have led to improved services for Indiana's citizens. (October 2008)
Indiana's educators now have the most legal protection in the country against unruly students, unreasonable parents and lawyers which will allow them to maintain discipline and a positive learning environment in their classrooms.