Legislative Priorities

FPO: Subject Lower Left

Economic & Community Development

GFW Inc. is focused on attracting new businesses, helping existing businesses grow, and creating best-in-class amenities to attract and retain talent. We encourage creative uses of resources and support policies to improve quality of place, maintain infrastructure, and provide an environment for businesses to succeed.

  • Advance the implementation of the Allen County Together (ACT) economic development action plan

  • Support the advancement and long-term sustainability of quality-of-place projects including a $1 billion Riverfront District in downtown Fort Wayne, continued investment in southeast Fort Wayne, and improvement projects throughout Allen County communities to build best-in-class amenities that attract and retain talent and businesses

  • Support local revenue-enhancement opportunities to give communities the tools to adequately fund capital improvement projects

  • Support art and cultural institutions and developments as they are part of our community identity—attracting and retaining talent, leveraging tourism dollars, and helping sustain a positive quality of life for our residents

  • Support the implementation of Visit Fort Wayne’s comprehensive Tourism Master plan

  • Support the state enacted ability for local communities to establish Tourism Improvement Districts to fund destination development and tourism promotion

  • Rejuvenate neighborhoods by incentivizing investment in distressed properties, as vibrant neighborhoods are critical to our community’s growth

  • Support the implementation of state initiatives that encourage strategic investment in quality-of-place projects such as READI and the Northeast Indiana Strategic Development Commission

  • Advance a county-wide site development and land-banking policy to have strategic sites available for new commercial, office, and industrial development

  • Evaluate potential alignment of local and state site strategies and resources

  • Support incentives to modernize and increase the competitiveness of aging and functionally obsolete downtown commercial office buildings

  • Elevate Indiana’s economic competitiveness by strengthening successful economic development tools such as Tax Increment Financing (TIF), the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) Tax Credit, the Skills Enhancement Fund (SEF), and the Redevelopment Tax Credit

  • Preserve and strengthen federal economic development programs such as Historic Tax Credits, New Markets Tax Credits, Foreign Trade Zones, and Opportunity Zones

    FPO: Subject Lower Left

    Transportation & Infrastructure

    Reliable, high-quality infrastructure is fundamental to economic success. Indiana must invest in infrastructure—such as airports, roads and highways, broadband, railways, public transportation, and trails—that fuels business growth. GFW Inc. supports transportation and infrastructure projects and policies that align with the needs of our region and strengthen the ability to do business.

    • Support the continued funding and conversion of U.S. Route 30 to a freeway to improve connectivity in Northeast Indiana

    • Support a modernized, equitable local road funding formula

    • Support efforts, including state matching funds, to restore passenger rail operation along the Midwest Connect corridor with service connecting Chicago, Fort Wayne, Columbus (OH) and Pittsburgh

    • Advance policies and increase state funding to improve public transportation access, such as Citilink, including the ability to establish partnerships with neighboring counties to address regional transportation needs

    • Support initiatives that increase accessibility to high-speed internet and investment in broadband infrastructure, as access to affordable, quality broadband is critical for economic development, education, digital health, and community connectivity

    • Support energy transition initiatives, including renewable energy, to strengthen capacity and reliability for sustained business growth

    • Support the expansion of air service and air cargo in Fort Wayne—in a global economy, it is essential for Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA) to maintain and expand air service to business destinations

    • Continue to support FWA’s terminal expansion project, Project Gateway, to increase capacity

    • Support the military presence in northeast Indiana, including maintaining a combat fighter mission for the 122nd Fighter Wing

    • Support feasibility and environmental studies for the modernization of facilities at the Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base

    • Support local and state efforts to leverage federal funding from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for local and regional priority projects

      FPO: Subject Lower Left

      Entrepreneur & Business Development

      Entrepreneurs are the core driver of new, emerging growth businesses. Their ingenuity is the basis for a growing economy in which businesses can become national industry leaders. GFW Inc. supports initiatives that promote entrepreneurship, accelerate the growth of innovative businesses, and advance the development of early-stage industries.

      • Enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem by strengthening local and state initiatives that support entrepreneurs and startups to become high-growth firms and successful main street businesses

      • Support the strategic alignment and coordination of services provided by local entrepreneurial support organizations that improve access to entrepreneurial networks, mentorship, spaces, and other services

      • Support initiatives such as a community-based venture fund and accelerator to increase available capital to local startups by attracting national investment and incentivizing the retention of homegrown capital

      • Support initiatives to attract and retain the orthopedic and medical device industry in the region

      • Support initiatives to attract music production, industry innovation, technology development, and music technology training and education in a concerted effort to expand our music economy

      • Support the expansion of Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) capacity to deploy $10 million to close the disparity gap, providing financing to underserved individuals and small businesses

      • Support investment for business development and expansion in R&D-intensive, engineering-focused, and technology-driven target industries to attract and grow high-wage jobs

      • Support efforts to make northeast Indiana a national destination for the development of innovative automotive technology such as autonomous vehicles and mobility, microelectronics, electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and other advanced technology

      • Continue expansion of digital health opportunities and innovation to increase access to health care services

      • Address the overall cost of health care for employers and employees

      • Monitor government regulations of artificial intelligence to both advance and protect business efficiency and operations

      • Strengthen measures for employers to defend against rising cybersecurity threats

        Welder at New Millennium Steel in Butler, Indiana

        Education & Workforce Development

        Access to a diverse and talented workforce is essential for business growth. GFW Inc. supports education and workforce policies that improve student outcomes, prepare students to be college- or career-ready, provide advanced training for current employees, and promote collaboration among educational institutions and businesses.

        • Support initiatives to increase access to high-quality, affordable childcare and early-childhood education

        • Further investment in education institutions at every level to provide the necessary resources to achieve student success

        • Support PreK-12 education programs that help prepare all students to be college or career-ready by providing early access to career exploration opportunities, access to career and technical education (CTE) programs, and increase dual-credit attainment

        • Support the growth and expansion of all our higher-education institutions to provide high-quality education that aligns community workforce needs, including Purdue Fort Wayne’s funding request to reestablish a School of Nursing to help address regional nursing demands

        • Work with Indiana University and IU Fort Wayne to expedite a market analysis of program needs with business community input and develop relevant academic programs based on the results of the analysis

        • Continue to work with the Indiana University administration on regional campus designation for IU Fort Wayne

        • Support graduate medical education grants to retain and attract highly skilled physicians to Indiana

        • Support additional student housing for Purdue Fort Wayne and our other higher education institutions to meet the on- and off-campus student housing needs

        • Support initiatives that increase the availability of additional workforce housing throughout the region

        • Support the development of local and state relocation incentive programs to attract new talent including remote workers

        • Support workforce initiatives such as MadeByMe that connect educators and businesses to highlight skilled-trades career opportunities to students

        • Support workforce development initiatives that align with employers’ training and education needs

        • Increase funding for the Next Level Jobs Employer Training grant and local programs that reimburse employers who train, hire, and retain new or current employees

        • Advocate for policies that cultivate diverse talent and leadership, and address equality, inclusion, and equity through leadership development, economic development, and employment

        • Support initiatives that help businesses create workplaces that are more accessible to all people

        • Support incentives to attract and create significant job growth in southeast Fort Wayne and other areas of limited employment opportunities

        • Make Indiana the state of choice for retiring military veterans

        • Support modernization of the federal immigration system including annual quotas for employment-based immigrant and non-immigrant visas to help employers meet their critical workforce needs

          FPO: Subject Lower Left

          Government Efficiency & Tax Policy

          Government can foster a premier business environment by minimizing unnecessary regulations, reducing the cost of doing business, and delivering efficient, high-quality services. GFW Inc. supports a stable regulatory and tax environment to foster a strong business climate and drive economic growth. GFW Inc. will continue to collaborate with our government officials at all levels to move our community forward.

          • Support zoning updates at major gateways and along key corridors to better align with the vision of the community and redevelopment potential

          • Support a clear, concise, and predictable local tax phase-in policy for businesses

          • Support the review of local government staffing capacity to provide the essential resources to sustain a high-growth economy

          • Support the continued implementation of efficient and effective local permitting procedures to ensure the capacity to move at the speed of business

          • Support an annual review of local surplus and unused funds

          • Encourage efforts to diversify key revenue sources, expand voluntary efficiencies, and allow for more flexibility for local government

          • Oppose overreaching administrative rulemaking and state and federal regulations that unduly burdens small businesses

          • Monitor the State and Local Tax Review Task Force

          • Support tax policies that encourage business growth, maintain Indiana’s competitiveness, and attract and retain talent

          • Support the elimination of the 30% depreciation floor on business personal property