Rep. Houchin endorsed by U.S. Chamber for her “pro-growth” small-biz focus.
Local leaders back tax incentives for manufacturers and community-college training.
Your Suggestions:
“Grow-in-place” tax credits for multi-year rural hires.
District-wide “Innovation Voucher” for startup lab access.
Leverage NSWC Crane (the district’s largest employer) to seed defense-tech spin-offs and small-biz grants.
Infrastructure Repair & Broadband Access
Existing Proposals:
Next Level Connections Grant—$350 M+ for 100/100 Mbps in unserved areas.
BEAD program (~$868 M) to close gaps and fund adoption training.
Your Suggestions:
Public–private last-mile bond pool leveraging muni borrowing.
Workforce hubs in shuttered post offices alongside broadband pilots.
Healthcare Access & the Opioid Crisis
Existing Proposals:
Next Level Recovery—data integration, naloxone funding, PDMP upgrade.
IU School of Medicine addiction-psychiatry fellowships & CME programs.
Your Suggestions:
Mobile telehealth vans staffed by LPNs and community health workers, offering basic primary care, mental health services, and addiction recovery support.
Two-year loan repayment for rural family-practice residencies.
Education & Workforce Development
Existing Proposals:
Region 9 Workforce Board uses WIOA for training & apprenticeships.
Annual District Audit Day—joint transparency tour & report.
Open-data portal mapping every federal dollar in IN-09.
Environmental Stewardship & Economic Growth
Existing Proposals:
Indiana’s voluntary Stewardship Program rewards entities exceeding pollution standards.
Your Suggestions:
9th District Clean Streams Initiative—riparian buffers via multi-partner grants.
Green Bond incentives for municipal solar & efficiency retrofits.
Quality-of-Life & Community Support
Rural Health Clinics: Expand access to mental health, primary care, and addiction recovery services in underserved areas.
Affordable Housing & Transit: Collaborate with local governments to develop affordable housing and improve transit options connecting rural communities to job centers.