Indiana has built an exceptionally friendly business climate but continues to lag badly behind other states in some critical components needed to build a dynamic and creative culture, according to a report from the Indiana Chamber.
An Indiana Vision 2025 Report Card produced by the Chamber shows Indiana is No. 1 in the nation when it comes to regulatory freedom but ranked 47th when it comes to entrepreneurial activity.
That is just one of a number of jarring contrasts in the report card, which is a key part of an ambitious project launched by the Chamber three years ago with the goal of turning Indiana into a global leader in innovation and economic opportunity.
"For a dynamic and creative culture we need more entrepreneurs and they need more money," Chamber President Kevin Brinegar told about 75 people at Gamba's Ristorante in Merrillville on Monday.
Brinegar also acknowledged the national and international uproar over Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act in the last session of the Indiana General Assembly had given the state a "black eye" it will not easily recover from.
The Indiana Vision 2025 forum held at Gamba's was the fourth in the Chamber's statewide roadshow on its most recent report card measuring its progress in meeting the vision's goals.
Panelists and audience at the event both agreed that school-to-career programs are one answer to producing outstanding talent and making Indiana more dynamic, a key attribute if it wants to keep and attract employers to the state.
John Mengel, general manager for ArcelorMittal Steel USA at Burns Harbor, said his company's Steelworker of the Future program, done in conjunction with local colleges, has been successful in supplying his company with skilled workers. But he said similar programs are needed region-wide.
"I still believe today we don't do enough to prepare those people who are not college material," Mengel said. "We leave them out."
School City of Hobart Superintendent Peggy Buffington said the Ready NWI school-to-career program is one way to address that need. The program has grown from from seven participating schools to more than 30 today.
"We are looking not just at the education side but the career side as well," Buffington said.
Buffington said the need for more trained people in manufacturing was driven home for her when managers at Urschel Laboratories, in Valparaiso, told her they didn't need more college graduates, they needed more workers trained computer aided design for machining parts.
She also said statewide pre-school programs and mandatory kindergarten are a must if Indiana wants to improve educational attainment.
The Chamber on Monday was touting significant improvements in scores on high-stakes national tests taken by fourth- and eighth-grade students in Indiana.
But despite progress in that area, Indiana appears unable to move the needle when it comes to post-secondary education. The state ranks 45th in the proportion of its citizens attaining two-year associate degrees and 42nd in those attaining four-year bachelor's degrees.
Brinegar said the report card results as well as a more recent workplace survey will be key tools as the Chamber lobbies the Indiana General Assembly to institute programs to build a globally competitive workforce for the 21st century.