Wrap Up: Hoosier Crossroads Tour Completed

After 15 months of crisscrossing the state, I have completed yet another journey through all 92 Indiana counties. This final set of stops, called the Hoosier Crossroads Tour, provided me with greater insight into potential efficiencies between state and local governments. My visits also allowed for me to see the state’s return on investment for many statewide projects that have received grant dollars over the past eight years.

Lt. Governor Skillman walks the
Pumpkinvine Trail during her
stop in LaGrange County

Statewide more than $1 billion in funding assistance for local projects, such as housing developments, local governments’ capital projects and energy assistance, have been administered since 2005 by the five state agencies Lt. Governor Skillman oversees. These agencies primarily aid communities through financial investments and other programs.

However, my fondest memories as Lt. Governor will always be about the people. Traveling from our biggest cities to the most rural towns, there have been so many Hoosiers that have helped move our state forward since 2005. I wanted to thank them once again for their dedication to our state.

Indiana is full of variety and every county offers their own unique contribution to our state. A few of my Hoosier Crossroads visits included:

-          Tim Burton’s maple syrup farm in Medora (Jackson County)

-          North Harbor Neighborhood Revitalization in East Chicago (Lake County)

-          Authentic Swiss Clock tower in Berne (Adams County)

-          Pumpkinvine Trail in Shipshewana (LaGrange County)

-          First net zero energy efficient library in Chrisney (Spencer County)

-          Downtown Revitalization grant for façade upgrades in Winchester (Randolph County)

-          Fair Oaks Farms Pig Adventure groundbreaking in Fair Oaks (Newton/Jasper Counties)

-          Mounds State Park in Anderson (Madison County)

-          Neighborhood Revitalization Program in Brazil (Clay County)

-          Street of Sullivan Main Street Economic Development Meeting in Sullivan (Sullivan County)

Lt. Governor Skillman tours Tim Burton's
maple syrup farm in Medora

During these stops and many others along the 92-county route, I met with local leadership to gain a better understanding of the successes and struggles facing their communities. I met face-to-face with mayors, county commissioners and locally elected officials to seek input on how the state and locals can create more partnerships.

After traveling to 27 counties, I released a report that highlighted issues from my discussions with local leaders.  The report also contained recommendations that would help state and local governments to work together more efficiently. Several of these issues were addressed during the legislative session.

Lt. Governor Skillman visits the
William Henry Harrison home
during a stop in Vincennes

The Hoosier Crossroads Tour was widely successful and gave me further reassurance that Indiana is moving in the right direction. Many of our communities have long-term strategic plans in place and are capitalizing on many of their key initiatives. I look forward to seeing the state’s progress and know we’ll continue to be a model for the rest of the country.

County 92: Lawrence

After 15 months of traveling to all 92 counties in Indiana, I made my final stop of the Hoosier Crossroads Tour in Lawrence County, my lifelong home. As a hometown gal, I have attended just about every festival, school outing, and fundraising supper Lawrence County has to offer. However, for this stop I was invited for the first time to speak at the annual Bedford Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Luncheon.  



Lt. Governor Skillman speaks at the annual Bedford
Fire Department's Fire Prevention Luncheon



It was very rewarding to see participation from so many people in our community from students to teachers, to local elected officials, and family members of our firefighters.

A person is never too old or too young to be reminded of the dangers of a fire and the sacrifice these men and women make to keep us safe. Even Mayor Girgis learned that her home needed more smoke detectors and she was going home to install them in every bedroom.

As Lt. Governor I chair the State’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and under this umbrella is the State Fire Marshall. After creating DHS in our first year in office, we have had many successes that have helped keep 6.5 million Hoosiers safe. This includes creating the Indiana Firefighter Training System, which provides certification and in-service training to more than 5,000 firefighters annually.  This is the first time in the history of our state there has been funding support for firefighter training at the local level. 

We all know the primary function of government is to protect our people. I have daily reminders of the state’s security, so I’m prouder than ever of the work being done by our firefighters, emergency managers, law enforcement and first responders across the state.  I have witnessed the dedication first-hand on many occasions. 

The hard work and commitment of our emergency responders coupled with the guidance of DHS will continue making Indiana a safer place for all Hoosiers. I am honored to live in a state where we take care of our neighbors. After traveling to all 92 counties, countless times, I know Hoosiers will successfully conquer any challenge.

County 91: Knox

From Corydon to South Bend, Indiana is home to many communities with a rich history that play an important role in preserving our state and country’s heritage. But there are not too many places more historic than Vincennes. From the Siege on Fort Sackville to the capital of the Indiana Territory, Vincennes has been at the center of our state’s development. As co-chair of the Indiana Bicentennial Commission, I took the opportunity to get a firsthand look at a key piece of history by visiting President William Henry Harrison’s Vincennes mansion.

As part of her Hoosier Crossroads Tour, Lt. Governor
Skillman visited Grouseland in Vincennes.
Lt. Governor Skillman serves  as  co-chair
of the Indiana Bicentennial Commission.

Indiana is only four years away from celebrating 200 years of history and the former President’s home will play a role in helping to celebrate Hoosier heritage. William Henry Harrison was the first Governor of the Indiana territory. The home was built for Harrison in 1804 and was the first all brick home in Indiana. After the home was sold from the family it came under disrepair and was set to be torn down in the early 1900’s. The Daughters of the American Revolution saved the house and restored it to the luster you see today. Grouseland, as the home is called today, is the organization that maintains the property. The group provided a historian during my tour and does so for anyone who visits wanting a deeper history of the home.

As Indiana prepares for the Bicentennial in 2016, I know Vincennes will be a key component of our celebration. My hope is that Hoosiers use this celebration as an opportunity to not only learn more about our state but to travel around Indiana viewing our history firsthand by visiting places like the William Henry Harrison mansion. Vincennes truly has so much history to share with Hoosiers from all over our state.

To hear more about my visit to Vincennes visit: http://www.wthitv.com/dpp/news/local/southern_indiana/skillman-tour#.UHQ3vlHMLcs

County 90: Daviess

In November, I-69 will be open from Evansville to Crane which will give communities along the interstate corridor quicker access to parts of the state and country. The city of Washington is looking to capitalize on the new traffic passing by their doorstep. I met with several local leaders to hear about their community initiatives as they sit on the cusp of the opening of this new gateway that will bring additional visitors through the city.



Lt. Governor Skillman talked with Daviess County
representatives during her visit there earlier
this month.



Washington worked closely with the state to move their city forward. In 2006, they received a $525,000 Community Focus Fund grant from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Driving into town, I saw many of the improvements these dollars funded including new streetscapes and façade upgrades. It was a wow moment driving down Main Street to see that there were no vacancies and that every store was filled with a business.

The city was also awarded a $4.1 million Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. The new neighborhood on the west end of town is a great addition to the community. The NSP program helps in two capacities - to clean up a blighted area of town and to put lower income Hoosiers in safe, affordable housing. These dollars are highly competitive and the community should be extremely proud of the results.

There are also many great programs going on at the schools including CEO. This program partners students with different company CEOs, and they learn leadership skills directly from top executives. In a story I read, one student expressed her ability to work with adults and communicate effectively with people much older than herself. The student said many kids have had everything done for them, but the CEO program allowed them to be treated like an adult and act like one too. 

Community leaders are active in improving the quality of life for the community, providing solid educational opportunities and securing grant dollars to advance the city’s long term plans. As the interstate lanes open, Washington is in the perfect place for major economic growth. I look forward to pulling off in Washington in the future as I cruise down I-69.

County 89: Putnam

Indiana’s Stellar Communities program won a national award from the Council of State Community Development Agencies last month. We knew the program was a success and my recent visit to Greencastle, a pilot community in the Stellar Communities program, reinforced the fact that amazing things are taking shape.

Lt. Gov. Skillman meets with Audra Blasdel of DePauw
University and Deb Gould of Starbucks at the university's new
book store which is part of Greencastle's Stellar Community plan.

While in Greencastle, I toured DePauw University’s new Eli's Bookstore which includes a Starbucks Coffee shop. This bookstore is a shining example of what the Stellar Communities is all about – collaboration. Several state agencies have formed partnerships to fund comprehensive development projects, including the bookstore, in Greencastle where the city and DePauw University came together to win an entry into the program.

The local paper, the Banner Graphic, summarized my visit in a recent article,

Beaming from the moment she set foot in Eli's Bookstore Wednesday morning to the second she left with a Starbucks coffee in hand, Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman was as impressed as she was proud of what is happening in downtown Greencastle.

After all, in reality Skillman is the mother of the Stellar Communities program. And for now at least, Greencastle is her favorite child.

Skillman conceived it. She nurtured it along through proper state government channels. And now gets to watch it grow in Greencastle and three other Hoosier communities.

To continue reading this article from the Banner Graphic, visit http://www.bannergraphic.com/story/1900430.html.

County 88: Clark

My stop in Clark County for the One Southern Indiana Chamber luncheon marked my 26^th visit to the area since 2005. This visit was for a happier occasion than last time when I was on the ground in four communities after the severe tornado damage. As many families are still putting their homes and lives back together, they are on our minds as we continue to build a strong economy for all Hoosiers. 

Lt. Gov. Skillman talks with Tonya Fischer of One
Southern Indiana during the Chamber's luncheon.

I spoke to the Chamber about our state’s economic progress. With only three months left in office, Governor Mitch and I are still moving full speed ahead to help our people prosper and to maintain our competitive edge among the states.  Below are a few highlights of what I shared with folks at the Chamber luncheon.

• Indiana continues to be a leader in private sector job growth. So far in 2012, businesses working with the state have projected to create around 16,000 new private sector jobs with a private capital investment of nearly $3 billion.

• In the Clark County region, expansions and investments have come from Accent Marketing Services, Talon Logistics, Key Electronics, Flexible Materials and Idemitsu Lubricants.  These companies and more have committed to invest nearly $32 million, and that’s from only the companies who worked with the state.

• We continue to receive national and international recognition for the favorable business climate in Indiana.  This summer I lead my sixth international trade mission for the state, my second visit to China.  Business and government leaders in China continue to target Indiana as one of two states where they expect to invest.  

• We have kept our reputation as a fiscally responsible state with reserves intact, and a hard-won and maintained AAA credit rating by all rating agencies.  Hoosiers will actually see a taxpayer refund within this next year, due to a healthy surplus. 

• We also took steps to maintain our low cost of doing business.  We cut the corporate income tax by nearly 25 percent going forward, while other states have increased taxes. This means Indiana is not coming after business (the job creators) for a greater share of the tax burden.  That is perhaps even more important to the survival of small business.

• Clark and Floyd Counties received $104 million in grants, just from the five agencies of the lieutenant governor.  These highly competitive grants went to energy, housing, community and economic development projects.

To read more about my visit to Clark County, check-out what The News and Tribune wrote at http://newsandtribune.com/local/x403307846/Skillman-s-farewell-tour-stops-at-1si-event

 

County 87: Starke

Indiana is home to innovative companies that cannot be found anywhere else in the nation. During my recent stop to Starke County, I met with the leaders of J.W. Hicks in Knox. A manufacturer of refractory products and services for the metals industry, J.W. Hicks is the only one of its kind in the United States and there only four other companies in the world that produce similar products.

Lt. Governor Skillman meets with employees
of J.W. Hicks in Knox.

This highly specialized company, which opened its doors in 1985, continues to thrive in Indiana. In fact while I visited the company, they drove me down the road to see their latest expansion, a second facility for refractory recycling production. Few things are more rewarding than seeing a company expand and grow at a time when we most need jobs.

Indiana continues to be a leader in job growth. Our private sector gains are twice the national average, with manufacturing jobs leading the way. Indiana is fiscally sound, that means we are not coming after business for a greater share of the tax burden.  This is important to the survival of any business today. 

Nothing makes us happier than to watch a company stay and grow here, and J.W. Hicks is a great example of a homegrown Hoosier business. To read more about my visit to Starke County, check out this article from the local newspaper, http://www.thepilotnews.com/content/lt-gov-skillman-tours-jw-hicks.