Holcomb Calls US 30 Freeway A ‘Top Priority’
By Dan Spading
InkFreeNews
WARSAW – Gov. Eric Holcomb wasted little time Thursday night, Jan. 27, addressing possibly the biggest regional issue in northern Indiana – the need to revamp US 30.
Holcomb was the keynote speaker at the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner held this year at the newly constructed headquarters of Nextremity Solutions in the Warsaw Tech Park.
Instead of a traditional speech, Holcomb participated in a Q&A session, a format he’s participated previously in during visits to Kosciusko County.
The first question from the moderator, Lake City Bank president David Findlay, was about US 30 and came hours after Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer, who is heading up the US 30 Coalition, testified in Indianapolis in front of the Senate Appropriations Committee about future funding.
Indiana Department of Transportation has not formally embraced the US 30 freeway, but a long-range environmental study is set to begin this year.
Holcomb made it clear he understands how important it is to the region.
“Obviously, US 30 is a top priority,” Holcomb said.
He said he’s been hearing from Thallemer and other lawmakers about the issue. “It’s not new to us. It’s a top priority and we’re gonna get it done. It’s a huge potential corridor for explosive growth.”
“We’re on the road to getting that done,” he said.
Holcomb took time to tout Indiana’s strong economic conditions, noting that the 2.7% jobless rate is the lowest since 1976 and Indiana remains the biggest manufacturing state in the country.
Indiana also continues to do better than surrounding states in terms of migration patterns. He said Indiana is the sixth fastest-growing state in terms of people choosing to live here.
Indiana is surrounded by three states – Ohio, Michigan and Illinois, that are seeing declines in population.
“The Midwest lost 93,000 people in 12 states. We gained 20,000,” he said.
Indiana needs to be ready to cope with what he called multiple transitions and modernization efforts that are underway.
“A state like Indiana that is No. 1 per capita in the country in manufacturing – we better be No. 1 in advanced manufacturing ten years from now,” Holcomb said. “We have the luxury financially right now where we can afford to make targeted investments into helping our corporate citizens to continue to modernize.”
Holcomb steered clear of politics but did defend the way he’s handled the pandemic, which is a sore point for some conservatives who did not like the governor’s approach.
Asked about future priorities, Holcomb said he tries to be a disciplined leader and then referenced the pandemic.
He said they avoided making “herky-jerky” decisions.
“We sought to have a balanced approach and we never lost sight of what our priorities were,” he said.
He also mentioned how the state took in 7,201 Afghan refugees and placed them at Camp Attebury as they begin to live in Indiana.
“They look at Camp Atterbury as their Ellis Island,” he said.
Holcomb was asked about his preference to wear boots.
Holcomb said he and his wife decided when he was first elected governor that they would not change aspects of their life.
“I came (into office) in them, I’ll leave in them and they fit like a glove!”
Holcomb’s conversation, as well as the presentation of awards, can be seen online here.