Indianapolis and its surrounding counties are not only in the middle of this Midwestern state, but also a hotbed of job creation, community achievement with nationally ranked suburbs, a thriving city and amenities to match. This growth has kick-started a buzz of activity, especially in the state’s capital—downtown Indianapolis is coming to life with a patchwork of neighborhoods, each of which has its own distinctive personality and flavor. Indianapolis is quickly becoming a culinary destination thanks to the arrival of a number of hotspots—including Beholder, the latest offering from James Beard stand-out chef Jonathan Brooks—and vibrant downtown districts that mix the influx of young tech employees at companies such as Salesforce with the historic revitalization of cozy neighborhoods like Fletcher Place. Storied events such as the Indianapolis 500 have experienced a millennial rebirth with glamping in the race infield and an EDM dance concert that brings fans from across the country and beyond.
Just one of the global businesses that calls Indiana home, Infosys, an Indian digital services and consulting company, opened its flagship Technology and Innovation Hub in Indianapolis last year; the firm recently announced plans to transform a 70.5-acre site at the old Indianapolis Airport Terminal into its U.S. Education Center. Both the Technology and Innovation Hub and the U.S. Education center will add 3,000 jobs by 2023. “Our continued investment in Indiana will enhance our ability to serve businesses in the state, including Cummins and Allison Transmission,” says Ravi Kumar, the company’s president. “We hope that Infosys’s ongoing partnership with the state will inspire other businesses to invest and expand in Indiana as we have.”
With the economy booming in Central Indiana, a hub for logistics, it only follows that FedEx has committed to the state by investing $1.5 billion to expand its facility at Indianapolis Airport for its 30th anniversary. “The facility opened in 1988 with 300 team members. Today it’s powered by nearly 4,000,” says Amanda Williams, vice president and general manager, Air Group and Freight Services, Central Region, FedEx Express. The second largest hub in its global network and, no doubt, the airport’s most lucrative tenant, the expansion will increase the company’s footprint by more than 50 acres and will certainly bring numerous benefits to the local economy. It also highlight’s the airport’s success with both cargo freight and with passengers—the airport has won many awards, including being ranked as the best airport in North America for the sixth year in a row. It’s also home to the world’s largest solar farm on airport real estate. The farm’s 87,488 solar panels generate more than 36.1 million kilowatt hours of solar energy annually—enough to power more than 3,650 average American homes.
“FedEx’s investment in Indiana strengthens our reputation as a global logistics leader and ensures our position as the crossroads of America,” affirms Jim Schellinger, Indiana’s secretary of commerce.
Indeed, Indiana’s advanced manufacturing leaders, like Cummins and Allison Transmission, continue to propel the economy of their home state, not just with their global footprints and billion-dollar revenues but—in a tidy ecosystem—by supporting the specialized services offered by locally based companies like Infosys.
Certainly, it’s the quality of life and the balance between work and play that sets Indiana apart. Central Indiana, particularly, provides the best of both worlds with a vibrant, up-and-coming capital city. A half-hour’s drive from the capital brings you to any number of picturesque state parks and family-friendly activities. A favorite is Conner Prairie—a living history museum and Smithsonian affiliate that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places—where visitors of all generations can experience 19th-century life along the White River.
And with state plans to further invest in Indiana’s quality of place by enhancing the state’s network of hiking and biking trails, Governor Eric J. Holcomb concludes: “Our secretary of commerce, Jim Schellinger, and I have often said how we believe Indiana has the tools it takes to be the most unique, most accomplished and most advanced economic development state in America.”
Powered by (E) BrandConnect, a commercial arm of The Economist Group
