Gov. Mike Braun traveled across Indiana in recent weeks, starting in late May, to highlight job growth, rising wages, workforce readiness, small businesses and public safety.
“My top priority is affordability, and in addition to lowering prices on essentials like gasoline through our gas tax suspension the most important thing we can do to make life more affordable is facilitate new jobs and higher wages for Hoosiers,” Braun said in a statement. “Indiana is open for business, and everywhere I go across our state I see businesses adapting, serving their communities, and creating new jobs for Hoosiers.”
During his statewide visits, Braun spoke at the RV Industry Power Breakfast in Elkhart County, where he discussed Indiana’s current business climate, the impact of the RV industry on the state, and his focus on growing jobs and wages for Hoosier workers.
Braun then visited Ivy Tech Community College’s Valparaiso campus on May 21 to highlight Indiana’s workforce readiness pathways and training programs preparing students for careers. The visit included an in-depth look at hands-on learning labs in nursing, welding, and HVAC and energy technology programs that, according to Braun, continue to meet strong employer demand in Northwest Indiana and beyond.
“Ivy Tech’s training model is one of the strongest workforce pipelines in the state,” said Braun. “These programs give students real experience with real equipment, creating graduates who are prepared to step directly into good jobs on day one. Employers depend on this talent pipeline, and Hoosiers benefit from an affordable education that leads to lasting careers.”
Ivy Tech Valparaiso serves more than 10,000 students annually, and the school awarded more than 1,800 credentials during the last academic year across certificate, technical certificate and associate degree programs.
Ivy Tech serves approximately 200,000 students annually across more than 41 locations in Indiana. The college offers more than 75 academic programs, many designed to lead directly to in‑demand jobs to keep education affordable and accessible.
To support small businesses in the Hoosier state, Braun made a stop in northern Indiana.
“I enjoyed visiting Fingerhut Bakery in North Judson recently to meet with local farmers, business owners, and community leaders to talk about the issues and opportunities facing rural Indiana,” Braun said in a post on the social media platform X about the visit.
Monroe County Fire Department Station 25 was also among Braun’s stops during National EMS Week where he honored Monroe County first responders whose quick action helped save a Hoosier’s life. According to the press release about the event, Indiana has more than 25,000 EMS professionals, who provided emergency medical care more than 3,000 times per day in 2025.
Braun’s visits also included going to Wabash to speak to Mayor Scott Long and the NWI Times Business & Industry Hall of Fame in Merrillville.
For more information visit events.in.gov/.
Contact Staff Writer Malik Simon at 317-762-7847.
Malik Simon is a Staff Writer for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Memphis, TN, he graduated from Mississippi Valley State University with a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies concentrating on journalism. Before joining the Recorder, he wrote for the Devil’s Gazette newspaper at MVSU and served as a freelance content and video editor. He seeks to use media to help communities flourish through literacy and factual reporting.
