Indiana is a state where companies from across the nation and around the world find the talent and resources they need to build success.

Located in the heart of the American Midwest, Indiana offers a low-cost, pro-business environment — including low utility costs and low workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance rates — coupled with a highly skilled, educated, and capable work force. With nine interstate highways, three state-of-the-art international ports, and the second-largest FedEx hub in the United States, Indiana offers companies a strong competitive advantage when it comes to reaching North American and global markets.

Indiana aggressively seeks out job creating investments in all industries. However, the state places special emphasis on life sciences, advanced manufacturing, transportation, distribution and logistics, information technology, value-added agriculture, and motorsports. For example:
• • Home to life sciences industry giants such as Eli Lilly and Company, Biomet, Cook Group Inc., Roche Diagnostics, and Zimmer, Indiana has the second-highest concentration of biopharmaceutical jobs in the country and the fifth-largest pharmaceutical industry in the United States in terms of sales, shipments, receipts, and revenues.
• • Indiana’s manufacturing industry — including such companies as Cummins, Sony, Rolls-Royce, Toyota, ArcelorMittal, and Honda — leads the nation in innovation and industry best practices. Indiana ranks first in the United States in terms of manufacturing employment and number of plants.
• • Each year, 1.1 billion tons of freight travel through Indiana, which makes it the fifth-busiest state for commercial freight traffic.

Indiana is also a global hub of international investment and manufacturing. International companies in Indiana employ more than 18 percent of the state’s manufacturing work force. Indiana ranks first in the nation in production jobs created, second in the total number of jobs created, and second in R&D jobs created by international investment, according to a 2007 report by IBM.

Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries both operate major Indiana automotive assembly plants, and a new Honda assembly plant will begin production in fall 2008. GETRAG, a German firm, is building a new $450 million transmission plant in Indiana. The state is also home to the North American headquarters of Aisin U.S.A., which produces automotive components, as well as dozens of other major international companies, including Nestlé, Bayer AG, Siemens AG, British Petroleum, Tomkins, and BAE Systems.

Thanks to new initiatives and legislative successes, Indiana is increasingly attractive for additional business investments. Indiana has undertaken a massive $12 billion infrastructure investment program called Major Moves that includes more than 200 new construction projects and 200 major preservation projects. This program will make it easier to move products to market.

The state also offers one of the highest research and development sales tax credits in the country, which provides an exemption to companies on the amount they pay in state sales taxes on R&D equipment. Indiana also has a state tax exemption on some income derived from federal patents for new technology or processes, a move which is designed to spur additional patent activity. Recent adoption of state-of-the-art telecommunications legislation has led to major new investments in broadband and fiber optics.

Indiana’s economic environment is garnering national attention as business experts, trade organizations and media take notice of the state’s strong economic environment.
• • Indiana ranks as the best place for business in the Midwest — and eighth nationwide – according to a January study by Chief Executive magazine. Indiana’s ranking outpaced neighboring Midwest states by more than 15 places.
• • Indiana has the lowest business cost index in the Midwest and the fourth-lowest in the country, according to the July 2007 Forbes magazine.
• • Indiana ranks first in the Midwest and 12th nationally in the Tax Foundation’s 2007 Business Tax Climate Index.

The state also offers a wide variety of programs, incentives, and assistance for companies that are investing and building in Indiana. When it’s all added up, Indiana is a great place for business expansion, investment, and growth.