Indiana luring Ohio and MI firms

Armed with $3.8 billion from the lease of the Indiana Toll Road, the State of Indiana is using a portion of this money to lure businesses and jobs from neighboring Ohio and Michigan.

Economic development officials in Ohio and Michigan indicate that they face a significant disadvantage in competing

for major development projects. Indiana is using money from the toll road lease to offer incentives to businesses to locate in the state. One incentive being offered by Indiana is free land for major industrial projects. Multimillion dollar real estate properties are being offered free of costs to companies considering locating in Indiana.

In June 2006, Indiana received $3.87 billion for a 75-year lease to the Indiana Toll Road Concession Company for the management and operation of this highway. This money is the result of Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels' Major Moves program.

Governor Daniels explained his rationale for this strategic move: "We've only ever had one purpose, and that was to build a more prosperous state, starting right here. In one stroke, Major Moves closed our $3 billion transportation infrastructure deficit. Now, we have huge resources we never would have had to generate jobs we'd never have had a shot at."