Monday, November 3, 2025
Home Blog Page 60

‘Failure is not an option’ for Indianapolis Black business owner

Timoria Cunningham
-
0
‘Failure is not an option’ for Indianapolis Black business owner

The road to entrepreneurship was far from easy for Herd Strategies founder and president, Denise Herd—but that did not stop her. Although her career path ventured into public relations it did not start that way.

Growing up, Herd had an interest in journalism and aspired to become a news anchor. Herd’s interest in news began in high school where she participated in a youth telecommunications program hosted by the Indiana Black Expo.

Herd attended Clark Atlanta University where she majored in broadcast administration. During her time in college, Herd had the opportunity to intern with Columbia Pictures and little did she know this is where she would find her passion.

The internship allowed participants to spend each week of the summer learning about different aspects of motion picture production. The topic for Herd’s first week was public relations. Although Herd had not taken any classes pertaining to the subject, she instantly became fascinated with it and thought to herself “maybe broadcasting isn’t your passion,” Herd said.

It was then that Herd found what she wanted her career to be. What sparked Herd’s interest in public relations was “how dynamic the discipline is,” Herd said.
According to Herd, working in public relations allows her to be a “vehicle for communication,”

“Effective communication is so essential in bringing people together and guiding a message or a narrative is really awesome to me,” Herd told the Recorder. ‘I love the fact that I have the opportunity to shape a narrative and influence opinions.”

Herd was in her last year of undergraduate studies when she found her true passion and knew it would be a stretch to change her major that late into her college journey. So, she decided to finish out her degree in broadcast management.

Although Herd did not have training in public relations at the time, it did not discourage her from pursuing it. Herd’s determination landed her a position working at a public relations company where she was formally trained in the craft and was able to begin her career.

Herd wanted to gain knowledge in business ownership, marketing and teaching on a college level and decided to continue her educational journey at Indiana Wesleyan University where she received her master’s degree in business administration.

While pursuing her master’s degree, Herd started her first public relations company with her business partner at the time. According to Herd the business “dissolved” after three years because both she and her business partner had different goals and visions for the company.

“That passion for entrepreneurship still was burning brightly,” Herd said.
One day Herd was speaking with her parents and during the conversation they encouraged her to start her own business. It was then Herd began the process to start her own public relations firm. That evening, Herd created a business plan and later started Herd Strategies in 2011.

Herd Strategies is a public relations firm that connects businesses to underrepresented and mainstream audiences by providing their clients with branding, marketing and communications expertise services.

Herd noticed in the beginning of owning her business that although she had years of experience in the field of public relations, she still struggled to get business because she did not have credibility established at the time.

Lack of cash flow was another obstacle Herd faced with her business to the point where it was difficult to generate enough income for her bills.

“You go through the struggle where you’re just taking anything to make sure that you can make ends meet,” Herd said. “Eventually the tide does shift but you just have to stay extremely focused and dedicated to your vision.”

It was Herd’s faith in God, perseverance and support system that pushed her to continue her career.

“I think what kept me going was that I knew I could do it; I never thought about giving up,” Herd said.

While attending a holiday party for the National Association of Women Business Owners, Herd was speaking with a friend about the slow growth of her business and her friend encouraged her to keep going; she told her once she got her first contract the others would fall into place.

One year later Herd’s company pursued a significant proposal which she was worried about not getting. She noticed a letter from the company in her mailbox and began to cry because she said, “usually a letter means no,” Herd said. To her surprise the letter was to congratulate her on getting the proposal.

“When that happened, it was like the doors just started opening,” Herd said.

Currently Herd Strategies has eight employees and has worked with companies such as IPS, INDY GO, Newfields, Indy Urban League and IU Health.

In the future Herd wants to expand her business’ services to a statewide level and would like to diversify her clientele.

“There’s no way I’m going to give up, I’m not going to be defeated; failure is not an option,” Herd said.

Contact staff writer Timoria Cunningham at 317-762-7854. Follow her on Twitter @_timoriac.

Local designer going to LA Fashion Week

CHLOE McGOWAN
-
0
Local designer going to LA Fashion Week

Indianapolis fashion designer Joshua Brooks is headed to Santa Monica for LA Fashion Week this month.

Brooks, 26, CEO and designer of BLACC, said he started designing clothing about three years ago before he eventually launched his clothing line and company in April of 2020. What started as “comfortable wear” pop-up shop around Indianapolis quickly grew into a national brand, exceeding Brooks’ expectations and aspirations.

“When it first launched, it was something small. I didn’t have bigger aspirations than what it was,” Brooks said. “(But) it was flourishing, and I couldn’t keep up with BLACC product and how fast it was going.”

Though Brooks took a break with the brand, he decided to relaunch the collection in November of 2022. The outcome of which was overwhelming, and Brooks said he ended up doing a professional photoshoot and commercial for the brand.

Brooks’ friends and colleagues kept suggesting he apply to go to LA Fashion Week to gain more exposure. Eventually, he said he gave in and applied. Brooks received an acceptance email two weeks later from The Model Experience — a modeling agency that connects designers and models to fashion weeks all over the country.

From there, Brooks launched a GoFundMe to help take care of the expenses and met with a consultant to handle the bookings and promotional end of things.

BLACC features an array of different clothing pieces from sweatsuits to leather jackets and dresses. (Photo provided by Joshua Brooks)

“I had no aspirations of even going out to LA Fashion Week,” Brooks said. “All this happened after the photoshoot and the commercial video, everything was coming together.”

Currently BLACC includes just about everything from leisure wear to everyday clothing pieces, Brooks said, such as two-piece sets, leather jackets, dresses, tracksuits and hoodies. But Brooks said he plans to premier pants during LA Fashion Week. 

Brooks said BLACC is constantly evolving as he continues to grow as a designer, but for now he’s a one-man-show. BLACC is operated solely off of Brooks’ Instagram account — though he said a website is coming soon so that “everyone across the globe can access it,” — and he sketches, designs and prints everything in-house.

However, Brooks said he specializes in graphic images, and the clothing in his collection is heavily inspired by the ‘90s. The graphic image hoodies are “based on events that happened in the past and recollecting on them today” with images from older TV shows, iconic sporting events and other major moments, Brooks said.

“It’s for everyone and I really want it to be out there,” he said. “BLACC clothing isn’t just for Black people, it means that we’re unified.”

Nikki Blaine, local fashion designer and owner of Nikki Couture, met Brooks at Indianapolis Public Library’s annual Meet the Artists in February and has since taken him under her wing in a mentorship.

Blaine, who’s been a designer for more than 30 years, said mentoring is something she’s passionate about since that’s something she didn’t have when she first got started in the industry.

“No one was really friendly enough to really mentor me, so I just had to find my own way,” Blaine said. “So it has become my mantra to just always give back to young people that are aspiring to be a fashion designer or learn more about the industry.”

Though Blaine has mentored young designers for years, she said Brooks didn’t need as much help since he already had a completed product. Though he needed a little guidance on the branding side and the back end of things, Blaine said he has a good product with BLACC.

BLACC features an array of different clothing pieces from sweatsuits to leather jackets and dresses. (Photo provided by Joshua Brooks)

“I always suggest for people to market themselves in different markets because what they will learn is, if you can make it in Indiana, you can make it anywhere,” she said. “Because we’re not the friendliest or you know, we’re not the fashionistas, we’re not necessarily gravitating to the next hottest thing.”

Blaine said if young, local designers can position themselves to branch off to another market — like Brooks is doing — then they’re already ahead of the curve.

For Brooks, LA Fashion Week is a huge step in furthering his business and brand. Small and large brands from all over the country will be in attendance, allowing for opportunities to network.

“I’ll definitely be able to flourish and gain exposure from this and networking,” Brooks said. “Honestly that’s what I really wanted to get at.”BLACC will be a featured designer at the LA

Fashion Week Festival on March 12 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. The festival will feature fashion shows, live panels, performances, giveaways and more. Doors open at 10 a.m. and tickets are available at themodelexperience.net.

Contact staff writer Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848 or chloegm@indyrecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @chloe_mcgowanxx.

As hot days increase, so does concern for the future of agriculture

JAYDEN KENNETT
-
0
As hot days increase, so does concern for the future of agriculture

Despite the scorched watermelons, greens and heat-stressed persimmon trees, Alex Sage looks upon the Heritage Community Garden with a smile.

Sage said the community garden in Martindale-Brightwood has struggled with the record-setting number of extreme heat days and many of the crops in the garden have died because of it.

“I was afraid we were going to lose everything,” Sage said. “So there was like a week of just panic.”

Despite petty thefts and scorched vegetables, Sage tends with joy to the garden as a volunteer in between work schedules and his personal life, doing whatever he can to save the community garden from the heat.

Shade cloths and heat regulating plants have helped, he said, but his okra still isn’t as tall as it should be, and his amaranth is still leaning.

Sean Mobley, senior policy associate for climate and clean energy at The Nature Conservancy, said we will see more extreme heat if we don’t work to eliminate our carbon footprint, but there are steps to take to mitigate the impacts on agriculture. NASA has established as fact that the Earth is warming at rapid temperatures due to human activities, and global temperatures have roughly a 50/50 chance of raising the Earth’s temperature more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, an iconic threshold for the international climate change treaty.

“I think that with extreme heat on the rise with what we’re seeing this summer, it’s not just going to be lawns dying and needing to put those water bags around trees,” Mobley said. “But its impacts to people from heatstroke and things like that, which tend to affect the very young and the very old, a little bit more.”

Indiana’s forestry and ecosystems aren’t meant to withstand such extreme temperature and droughts, Mobley said, and Indiana’s colder seasons tend to kill off the insects such as mosquitos that carry diseases. Mobley fears we could see more diseases transmitted from animals to humans — also known as zoonotic diseases — if the ecosystem and its natural cycle are disrupted due to heat.

Cover crops, crop rotation and reduced tillage or no tillage are three practices that scientists agree can help make agriculture more resilient to the changing climate. Cover crops can be used to break up soil and act as a sponge to hold water, which would require less irrigation, Mobley said. Cover crops also prevent sediment runoff into nearby rivers and streams.

A popular practice in Indiana that Hoosiers see, often called crop rotation, helps manage erosion, increase nutrients and improve overall soil health. Many farmers rotate corn and soybean.
Reduced tillage or no tillage prevents carbon stored in the soil from being released, Mobley said.

“Those three practices in combination can make an agricultural operation much more resilient to those negative impacts of climate change,” Mobley said.

Contact staff writer Jayden Kennett at 317-762-7847 or email jaydenk@indyrecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @JournoJay.

Indy: Perfectly Poised for an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Editor
-
0
<strong>Indy: Perfectly Poised for an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem</strong>

I often hear that small businesses, particularly women- and minority-owned small businesses, have unique business needs. As the founder and chief executive officer of my company, I can attest to the truth of that sentiment. Entrepreneurship is an incredibly rewarding, albeit, insanely taxing journey. However, communities can and should play a role in entrepreneurial success.

According to an assessment of Indy’s Small Business Ecosystem completed by Next Street and Common Future, Indianapolis and Marion County house a robust small business ecosystem with approximately 21,000 employer small businesses in 2017 that accounted for 91% of all employer businesses in the nine-county, Indy region. While most communities support entrepreneurship and its impact on the community, many miss opportunities to cultivate entrepreneurs. This missed opportunity costs cities money through business and talent attraction.

The cultivation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem creates a connected network where budding businesses have access to the specific resources they need to launch, grow, and scale their businesses. The essence of an entrepreneurial ecosystem is its people and the culture of trust and collaboration that allows them to interact successfully. An effective ecosystem allows for the fast flow of talent, information, and resources that help entrepreneurs quickly find what they need at each stage of growth. As a result, the whole is greater than the sum of its separate parts.

Understanding an entrepreneurial ecosystem is one thing, but creating an ecosystem takes bold, collective action—like putting and keeping entrepreneurs at the helm of a developing ecosystem. By putting entrepreneurs front and center, communities enable these leaders to do what they do best: design innovative solutions. As the ultimate beneficiaries in any program or ecosystem development, entrepreneurs are undoubtedly the most active participants in the plans.

However, an ecosystem is only as strong as the sum of its parts, which is why relationship-building is critical across community, industry, and political party lines. The primary focus of an ecosystem is to move knowledge and resources and that transference only happens through conversations between people. But actions can’t end with conversations—the key is to drive action. Instead of chatting in conference rooms or coffee shops, colleagues can challenge each other to build prototypes, brainstorm on a whiteboard, or engage in a good, old-fashioned, sticky note exercise. This bias towards action will begin to foster innovation and collaboration while modeling resource-sharing.

With a reputation built on Hoosier hospitality, and a nod from Forbes as the 2022 Best State to Start a Business, Indiana has already demonstrated a culture of invitation—one where everyone is welcome. The notion of being radically inclusive is what enables an ecosystem to unlock potential value out of everyone involved. An inclusive philosophy also enables an ecosystem for continual growth through the introduction of new ideas, people, and principles.

Ultimately, the benefits of an entrepreneurial ecosystem have the potential to yield a more connected, more innovative, more inclusive Indy that drives greater economic impact across the state. The only question remains is who’s ready to drive action?

Powers & Sons Construction awarded Vendor of Month

CHLOE McGOWAN
-
0
Powers & Sons Construction awarded Vendor of Month

Mayor Joe Hogsett recognized Powers & Sons Construction, a third-generation family and minority-owned business, as the Certified Vendor of the Month for February.

The award — which is an ongoing initiative between the Mayor’s Office and the Office of Minority and Women Business Development — was presented to Mamon Powers III, president of the Powers & Sons Indianapolis Office on Feb. 8.

“Powers & Sons Construction has been involved with some of our city’s largest and most beloved 21st-century projects, including portions of the Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis International Airport, and TCU Amphitheater,” Hogsett said in a statement. “But their legacy stretches back decades, making them a longstanding pillar of both Hoosier construction firms and the Black-owned business landscape of Indianapolis.”

Powers & Sons Construction got its start in 1967 when they began building single-family homes in Northwestern Indiana. The company expanded into commercial construction in Chicago and Indianapolis. During his 10 years as President, Powers has led projects exceeding $150 million and tripled the office’s size.

The business received several prestigious awards over the years, including “Best Places to work in Indiana,” “Diversity in Leadership Award,” “Indy Chamber Monumental Award” and “Black Enterprise Award for Business & Entrepreneurship.”

“When my grandfather started our business, all he wanted was to be a good contractor and give back to the communities we serve,” Powers said in a statement. “I am proud that 56 years later, striving to be the best and giving back to the community is core to our culture.”

Contact staff writer Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848 or chloegm@indyrecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @chloe_mcgowanxx.

Global Motivations: A Global Voice With Influence and Diplomacy

STAFF
-
0
Global Motivations: A Global Voice With Influence and Diplomacy

By Internationally-recognized global small business leader and Influencer, Dr. Toby Malichi, Hon.D.Bus., D.H.L., Founding Executive Chairman and Global Head of Development, Investment & Diplomacy at Malichi Group Worldwide – www.malichi.com

Who is Indiana’s “Institutional Knowledge” on Trade and Exporting? You Might Be Surprised!

You are probaby wondering what is the importance of international trade or exporting to Indiana or my small business? How do I take or expand my business globally? Why should I care about China, India or Africa, and their impact on my small-and-medium-sized enterprise (SME), the City of Indianapolis, the State of Indiana or the USA? What role does The White House Administration or Congress play in ratifying foreign policy, free trade agreements or attracting foreign direct investment, etc. These and other trade-related issues, international affairs, and your questions will be addressed in my Bi-weekly global column. For an example. I will be having a private lunch with Consul General Somnath Ghosh of India here in Indianapolis on Tuesday, January 10th. Afterwards, I will be able to brief small-and-medium-sized enterprises and my followers on the G20 and India’s advancing financial initiatives for SMEs.

This inaugural article won’t be about answering the aforementioned questions, but more about Indiana’s “Institutional Knowledge” on who were the initial key players that laid the foundation for positioning Indiana’s export trade on the global stage, and as Governor Eric Holcomb says, “Bringing Indiana to the World and the World to Indiana”.

In my view it was Indiana Governor Bob Orr and his Lieutenant Governor John Mutz’s Administration that started it all. Alan Kimball was the Director of the then Indiana Department of Commerce and his Executive leadership team was Nathan Feltman, that’s right, the same Nate Feldman that Co-owns and is the Publisher of the Indianapolis Business Journal, Caterina Blitzer, who I call Ms International, and my outstanding colleague now on the Indiana District Export Council (Where I am the first Black immediate-past Vice Chairman), Bob Mason, and Larry Ingram who was Head of Indiana’s Japan Office in Tokyo, just to name a few. Governor Evan Bayh continued expanding Indiana’s exports, and that’s when I begin to diversify my company (after resigning from General Motors Corporation) into international trade. Subsequently, I was serving on the Indiana Small Business Council of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, and was elected as its first Black Vice Chairman and Chairman, simultaneously serving on the board of directors and executive committee of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

I remember when then, Indiana U.S. Senator Dan Coats telling me in 1988 at a minority business meeting at the Madame Walker, that international trade was not a business for the faint-hearted. Truer words were never spoken. After an Indiana Trade Delegation, myself included, attended America’s first ever export conference held in Seattle, Washington (March, 1990) to learn more about exporting. That same Delegation was invited as Indiana’s first trade Delegation to Osaka, Japan (October, 1990) to attend Japan’s Global Business Opportunity Conference (G-BOC). That’s where I got my start into exporting doing deals with Japan and Australia. To this day, I have never experienced any racism or prejudice in any foreign country that I have traveled to. It’s fallacious and sad that I can’t say the same for Indiana. Thank God for Mr. Daniels, one of the founders of the Japan America Society of Indiana (yes, the Father of former great Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels), who invited me to join the JASI, and really taught me a lot about doing business in Japan, under the first, and outstanding Executive Director Teresa Kulzack. I learned a lot from him. What a gentleman.

We’ve been extremely fortunate to have great Governors in Indiana who were visionaries with a global perspective. Indianapolis has had great Mayors who had a global vision such as Bill Hudnut, Steve Goldsmith, where as a board member of the Indianapolis Economic Development Corporation, I helped develop strategies and the framework for his Global Initiative Plan (1992), which included plans for the new airport, and the Red line. Indy Mayor Greg Ballard also advanced trade and investment. And of course, Mayor Jim Brainard of Carmel and the roundabouts, and the increasing influx of global ccompanies. And who could forget the late Dr. Bert Servass, President, Indianapolis City County Council, Owner of the Saturday Evening Post, and his vast Export Trading Companies.

David Watkins, Vice President of the Indiana Small Business Development Centers (ISBDC), Incidentally, I helped bring them to Indiana back in the mid 1980s, paid me the best compliment. “Dr. Malichi has been doing trade deals and exporting before we had manuals.” I love that!! I’ve been called a Pioneer, Trailblazer, Chairman of International Trade, World Citizen and Ambassador of Trade for Indianapolis and Indiana by former Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger, and by my contemporaries.

Perhaps, one day in Indiana, “I will be judged by the content of my character and not by the color of my skin.” For my wisdom, knowledge, experience, expertise, and passion for trade. One can only hope and pray.

Perhaps, that day is January 13, 2023 when the Indiana Minority Business Magazine and the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper will honor me at the Champion Diversity Awards Dinner with the – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Award. It’s taken 41 years in global business to be recognized by the Indianapolis Black business community. Perhaps, perhaps, this will be the evidence-based impact pivot for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for those of us who’s global body of work are duly noted at the highest of levels around the globe? “The proof is in the pudding”.

As I always say, We doze but never close. Have a successful day and think globally!

For questions or comments email: Dr.Toby@malichi.com and follow @DrTobyMalichi on LinkedIn

Program prepares previously incarcerated youth for environmental management jobs

JAYDEN KENNETT
-
0
Program prepares previously incarcerated youth for environmental management jobs

A program through RecycleForce will provide training and placement in environmental jobs for previously incarcerated young adults throughout the state thanks to federal funding.

The program will reach 120 students primarily ages 18-25. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded $500,000 to RecycleForce to recruit and train at least 75 of those students in cleanup and reuse of contaminated properties.

Funding for the program comes from a grant from the EPA’s Brownfields Program. With industry-recognized certifications, RecycleForce works primarily with young adults who have been incarcerated or are experiencing homelessness.

The training program will focus on certifying students with one state and 15 federal certifications in lead and asbestos removal, eliminating mold, testing and analyzing samples, and handling emergency remediation.

Most of the students in the program have not completed high school or obtained a high school equivalency and are returning to society after being incarcerated at a young age, said Training Director Ken Alexander, which is why assessing needs and developing a plan is “pertinent.”

RecycleForce partners with adult education programs and Ivy Tech to help students get their high school equivalency diploma and continued education certifications. Students in the RecycleForce program have multiple career paths to choose from, and the decision is ultimately up to them.

“What’s attractive about our organization is that from day one, they become employed with the organization,” Alexander said.

The grant will help pay for half of the student’s salary, allowing students to start full-time positions at no less than $15 an hour — with the potential to earn more. Most students finish the program after 120 days, but classes can be shorter or longer depending on their experience and desired outcome.

The program also helps reduce violence, Alexander said.

“Whenever you can provide the young people with an alternative to the streets, it reduces recidivism,” he said.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests more than $1.5 billion over five years through the EPA’s Brownfields Program. Many trainees from the program are from historically underserved neighborhoods or live in areas that are overburdened by pollution.

Some students in the program are already in the classroom working their way toward graduation.

Contact staff writer Jayden Kennett at 317-762-7847 or by email jaydenk@indyrecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @JournoJay.

Indy Chamber announces leadership changes

STAFF
-
0
Indy Chamber announces leadership changes

The Indy Chamber added five new leaders to its Entrepreneur Services Department on Jan. 11. The department is tasked with connecting entrepreneurs and small businesses to capital, coaching, technical assistance and opportunities.

Stacia Murphy has been promoted to senior vice president of enterprise development; Keia Walker has been promoted to senior director of lending; Marcela Montera has been promoted to director of the Hispanic Business Council; Stephanie James has been hired as the director of the Central Indiana Women’s Business Center; and Christina Snorten has been hired as Business Equity for Indy program manager.

“The Indy Chamber serves as the voice for the regional business community, and it’s imperative that we have top talent leading our organization,” Moira Carlstedt, interim president and CEO of Indy Chamber, said in a press release. “Supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses across the region has never been so critical. We’re fortunate to have incredibly talented leaders that strive to reach small businesses in impactful ways.”

CDC creates tool to measure impact of environmental burdens

JAYDEN KENNETT
-
0
CDC creates tool to measure impact of environmental burdens

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention created an online, place-based tool designed to help measure the impacts of environmental burdens with a focus on environmental justice for marginalized communities that are disproportionately affected by environmental hazards.

The Environmental Justice Index is a first-of-its-kind tool and will help public health officials identify areas at risk for health impacts and prioritize action for communities most at need, according to the CDC.

The index is available at atsdr.cdc.gov.

Conditions in the environments where people are born, live, work and worship affect a wide range of health and quality-of-life outcomes. Access to health care, education and safe housing can determine a person’s health outcome and contribute to health disparities. Systemic racism, redlining and dilapidated housing leads to disproportionate environmental hazards such as higher rates of asthma, lead poisoning, poor mental health and air pollution.

“Too many communities across our nation, particularly low-income communities and communities of color, continue to bear the brunt of pollution,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a press release. “Meeting the needs of these communities requires our focused attention and we will use the Environmental Justice Index to do just that.”

The index delivers a single score to each community using federal data from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration and the CDC. The index also scores communities on social vulnerability, environmental burden and health vulnerability.

The index shows Marion County has a high environmental burden risk, with high prevalence of asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes and poor mental health.

Contact staff writer Jayden Kennett at 317-762-7847 or by email Jaydenk@IndyRecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @JournoJay.

What environmental bills to expect in the Statehouse this session 

JAYDEN KENNETT
-
0
What environmental bills to expect in the Statehouse this session 

The Indiana General Assembly will reconvene for the 2023 legislative session Jan. 9. The focus will be on public health and education, while some lawmakers have their sights set on environmental protections. 

The Hoosier Environment Council (HEC) is calling for an increase in funding for conservation, wetlands protections and environmental health, while lawmakers have filed bills to create tax credits and improve infrastructure. 

Increased conservation spending 

The HEC and the Indiana Conservation Alliance are seeking new state investments to conserve forests, rivers, wetlands and native fish and wildlife that depend on those habits. Indiana’s state parks are steadily growing with increases in visitors each year, and increases in trail use have led to a demand for land conservation that exceeds Indiana’s current conservation budget proposal. 

Last year, thanks to federal investments, Indiana invested more in conservation than it has in the last 10 years. However, in 2021, the state’s total conservation investment dipped to its lowest since 2016. 

Holcomb’s 2023 agenda includes $50 million for an existing trail program and $25 million for land conservation efforts. 

Larry Clemens, state director of the Indiana Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, said the proposal for land conservation is the most significant commitment of state funding since the General Assembly created the Indiana Heritage Trust —renamed the President Benjamin Harrison Conservation Trust in 2016 — 30 years ago. 

“At a time when our legislators are considering important issues like education, economic development and Hoosiers’ overall well-being, it’s important to recognize the role nature plays in all of these aspects of life,” Clemens said in a statement. “Gov. Holcomb’s proposed investment in natural Indiana bolsters all the other important programs the state will undertake in the next budget.” 

Climate and energy 

The HEC also wants legislation requiring Indiana to adopt a state climate action plan. More than half of U.S. states have adopted or are updating their climate action plans. The HEC also supports legislation enabling the expansion of community solar and opposes legislation that hampers renewable energy deployment or that mandates electric utilities to continue burning coal. 

Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus, filed a bill that would direct the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to conduct a joint study concerning decommissioning and disposal of solar panels. The bill would require IDEM and IURC to report findings and recommendations no later than Nov. 1. 

Sen. J.D. Ford, D-Indianapolis, filed a bill prohibiting utility companies from terminating services in the summer for those who are eligible and have applied for energy assistance. 

Rep. Dave Heine, R-Fort Wayne, filed a biofuel tax credit bill that would provide tax credits for the sale of ethanol blend and blended biodiesel. Biofuels are fuels produced from living matter and renewable materials, according to the EPA.  

Wetlands and environmental health  

A bill to establish a local unit water infrastructure fund has also been introduced by Rep. Randall Frye, R-Lake Forest. The fund would provide grants, loans and other financial assistance to repair, replace or increase water infrastructure and lead service lines. The bill would require the Indiana Finance Authority to adopt guidelines to establish criteria for making grants and providing loans and would require, if possible, the authority to allocate at least 50% of the total amounts to counties that have a population of 50,000 or less. 

The Hoosier Environmental Council’s website lists several other proposals it would like to see in the legislature, including legislation requiring child care centers to test their drinking water for lead, new tax credits for wetland protection and legislation to improve state oversight of coal ash disposal sites. 

Contact staff writer Jayden Kennett 317-762-7847 or by email jaydenk@indyrecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @JournoJay. 

1...596061...109Page 60 of 109

© Copyright 2023 Indiana Minority Business Magazine

Contact us: newsroom@indyrecorder.com

Website Created By: KI NuMedia

Translate »
Skip to content