Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch Visits With Warsaw Rotary
WARSAW — The Warsaw Rotary received a special visit from Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch during their meeting held today, June 15.
“It’s a privilege not just to represent our state, but to represent the good people of Warsaw,” said Crouch. “And whether I’m at home, or traveling around the state, one of my favorite things to do is to meet with forward-thinking groups like the Warsaw Rotary.”
Crouch spoke about how Indiana and Warsaw are fitting in with Gov. Eric Holcomb’s five pillar initiative to elevate Indiana to the next level. “Our next level agenda is about enriching the lives of Hoosiers,” explained Crouch. It lays out five pillars that put people first.”
The first pillar is to cultivate a strong and diverse economy by growing Indiana as a magnet for jobs. Crouch claimed that this pillar resonates in Warsaw due to the thriving economy. She spoke about the fact that Warsaw is known as the Orthopedic Capital of the World and that last week a ribbon cutting was held for Little Crow Lofts, a historic building that was revitalized into affordable-living units.
The second pillar is creating a 20-year plan to fund roads and bridges. Crouch noted that in Kosciusko County, $53 million will be spent on infrastructure improvements over the next five years, resulting in 212 lane miles resurfaced and 11 bridges rehabilitated. Kosciusko County and Warsaw were also recipients of around $1 million in matching grants for road improvements thanks to Indiana’s 2017 Community Crossing awards.
The third pillar is to develop a 21st century skilled and ready workforce. Crouch credited Warsaw with building a strong business foundation that is valued and helps address the workforce problem. Legislation recently created to battle this issue includes exempting sales tax on software that is sold as service to help attract and retain tech companies. The Next Level Veterans Initiative is looking to attract skilled, employable military personal to Indiana as they transition from the workforce.
The fourth pillar is to attack the drug epidemic. Crouch thanked the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force for combining resources and collaborating on investigations to stem the flow of drugs into the community. At the state level, legislation was passed this session to create more treatment locations, to increase penalties for drug dealers and drug manufacturers and to expand the INSPECT system, which monitors opioid prescriptions.
The final pillar is to deliver great government service. Crouch announced that Indiana’s government efficiency was rated number one in the country last year by a U.S. News report. She stated that Indiana will continue to compete against itself and fight wasteful government spending to hold the government more accountable to the people it serves.
“I believe that these goals go hand in glove with the goals of you as business and civic leaders,” said Crouch. “Because after all, you are about building a productive workforce and creating a quality of life here in Warsaw that attracts the best and brightest.”
As Lieutenant Governor, Crouch oversees a portfolio that includes the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Office of Defense Development, Office of Community and Rural Affairs, Office of Tourism Development. In addition, she also serves as chairman of the Indiana Counter Terrorism and Security Council, president of the Indiana Senate and chairman of the newly-created Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Task Force. Crouch graduated from Mater Dei High School in Evansville. She then went on to receive her Bachelor’s Degree in political science from Purdue University.