Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb is urging state lawmakers to take action in multiple areas of need in 2023. He made his pitch during his 2023 State of the State Address on Tuesday night while also celebrating what he called a lot of “wins” for Indiana. He started off his address by saying he’s focused on three goals: securing Indiana’s place in the economy of the future, transforming the delivery of public health across the state, and making unprecedented investments in the classroom from pre-K through college and adult learning.
The governor’s proposal includes nearly $350 million over the next two years for public health programs and $500 million for a new round of regional economic development grants.
There were some statistics about the state that Holcomb finds disturbing. “We rank 45th for smoking, 46th for obesity, 43rd for access to mental health providers, and 41st for childhood immunizations. Our life expectancy has also declined in recent years,” Holcomb said. Which is why he is requesting a significant increase in the state’s public-health appropriation. Holcomb says the money will empower communities to design and implement initiatives that will address their unique needs.
