Indiana Department of Commerce: technology services designed to "Energize Indiana.".

• Position: Sponsor

"We can sit and wring our hands and bemoan a national recession. Or we can act assertively, decisively, deliberately. We choose to act. We choose to Energize Indiana."

--Gov. Frank O'Bannon, Dec. 4, 2002

INDIANA HAS RECENTLY PASSED the most sweeping tax restructuring plan in our state's history; a plan that is lowering and even eliminating many taxes for companies that call Indiana home. Under the leadership of the late Gov. Frank O'Bannon and current Gov. Joe Kernan, Indiana also unveiled an innovative statewide economic plan called Energize Indiana, investing more than a billion dollars in bold initiatives designed to stimulate new and existing businesses. In addition, the state has committed millions of dollars in high-tech infrastructure, education and our workforce.

As the state's lead economic development agency, the Indiana Department of Commerce contributes to the Energize Indiana vision by offering a wealth of programs and incentives. Specifically, Commerce seeks to foster businesses involved in high-technology activity, providing technical and financial support when needed. The following are just a few of the programs that promote high-tech growth in the state of Indiana, making it a great state to cultivate a business.

CERTIFIED TECHNOLOGY PARKS

Communities that wish to establish themselves as havens for high-tech research and business may get state assistance to launch Certified Technology Parks, which serve as incubators to grow and nurture new ideas and high-tech enterprises.

House Enrolled Act 1001ss authorizes the establishment of the parks in Indiana. This new law, found in Indiana Code 36-7-32, encourages the location of high-technology businesses within areas identified by local redevelopment commissions. Certified Technology Parks allow the commissions to raise money through tax-allocation areas to create and maintain the parks. The legislation sets out criteria for the kinds of businesses that can be located in the parks and encourages support from an institution of higher education or a private research institute.

Any city, town or county with a redevelopment commission is eligible to have an area designated as a Certified Technology Park if certain requirements are met. In addition, a firm commitment must be shown from at least one business primarily engaged in a high-technology activity creating a significant number of jobs that will locate within the park.

The Energize Indiana plan appropriated $4.5 million a year...