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Lt. Governor Skillman's September in Review
September in Review Indiana is moving forward into fall. As Hoosiers look forward to cooler temperatures and warmer clothes, we’re also looking back at the great progress we’re making. The month of September was full of new developments. From multiple business expansions, to new community initiatives, and tributes to our armed forces, I saw those developments first hand all over the state. Hoosiers See Real Progress as Businesses Grown and build in Indiana
Lt. Governor Skillman shovels new ground with Willemsen Family. September brought many new business additions and expansions, and I had the pleasure of being there for a lot of them. I first joined Zentis Food Solutions, a German-based company, to announce their first-ever American headquarters in Plymouth. I continued to celebrate Indiana’s economic growth with the groundbreaking ceremony of Willemsen Dairy Farm in Frankton. The farm expansion brought onlookers from all over the world including Belgium, Denmark, and Germany to support the Indiana livestock industry. And soon after, I met with long time friends at the Lafayette Subaru plant to celebrate 20 years of success. And it didn’t stop there! I joined a number of Indiana businesses in announcing expansions throughout the state, including the new Aisin Chemical Indiana facility in Crothersville, EG&G Technical Services building at Crane Technology Park, Major Tool and Machine in Indianapolis, and the IBM Advanced Chip Technology Center at IUPUI. These companies are bringing hundreds of new jobs to Hoosiers.
Indiana Announces More Options for Senior Living
As part of our senior living initiative, I traveled to Tell City to announce a new program for aging Hoosiers. The Home Again program is an innovative partnership between the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) and the Department of Aging. Home Again will provide rental assistance to seniors on Medicaid who want to move from a nursing home to a more independent, affordable community setting while still receiving the medical attention they need. It was a pleasure to announce the program to the senior citizens of Tell City who have been active partners in its creation.
| I also had the honor of celebrating one of Indiana’s new senior housing designs with IHCDA and Sister Barbara of Guerin, Inc. at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Villas of Guerin Woods in Georgetown. As one of our newest senior innovations, the Villas of Guerin Woods will allow seniors to move out of institutions and instead live in a facility designed as a fully accessible home with multiple roommates. With more than 50 community leaders and supporters, the groundbreaking ceremony stood as the first visible step towards a brighter future for senior living in Indiana. | 
Lt. Governor Skillman at the groundbreaking of |
An Honorable Send-off for Our Heroes
September held many memorable moments. On one occasion, I had the unique privilege of helping send off almost 200 members of the 122nd Fighter Wing in Ft. Wayne as they deployed to Balad Airbase in Iraq. Those fine men and women will not only be a reminder to the troops in Iraq that assistance is at hand, but a reminder to the people of this nation that Hoosiers are able and willing to do our part. The sacrifices our service members make to protect the people of this nation prove, yet again, that we are a strong country. I pray that each and every one of them will return to us safely to celebrate a job well done. Check out the video from the event.
I continued to show Indiana’s appreciation for our soldiers while visiting Crane this month. While celebrating the new addition of EG&G Technical Services new building, I had the privilege of announcing a new project designed to address the needs of veterans with disabilities throughout our Hoosier communities. The new Crane Learning and Employment Center for Veterans with Disabilities will provide temporary employment for participants as student trainees at Crane Naval Weapons Support Center and I am proud to say that EG&G will house this effort.
Hoosier Cheer for our Soldiers
Spending time with Hoosiers in uniform put me in a very grateful place. We’re quickly approaching the holiday season, and our troops need to hear our thank yous and well wishes now more than ever. This month, I announced the start of my second letter and card campaign, “Hoosier Cheer for Our Heroes ,” for our deployed men and women at the celebration of the 2007 LST Week aboard the USS LST 325 in Evansville.
It was truly a “wow” moment as I walked down the plank and took my first step onto USS LST 325. More than one hundred veterans from all over the country were there - from California to New Jersey. I had the opportunity to thank each of them for their efforts in bringing LST 325 home.
While on board, I had the pleasure of speaking to these navy heroes who not only sailed the great ship but helped build and maintain many of our LST vessels. In Evansville alone, thousands of workers devoted their life to building ships just like LST 325. After a tour of the vessel, I was impressed by how much one group of people can do when they believe in something. There couldn’t have been a better place to announce the letter drive.
If that group of people could restore and maintain a vessel like that, surely we can pull together a few thousand cards for our troops. I’m excited about this project, and I hope you’ll be one of the first to send a card or email us a message to send overseas.
If you are interested in sending a letter of appreciation or a holiday card to our troops, please send them to my office by November 16th or click here for more information.
All mail can be directed to:
Office of Lt. Governor Becky Skillman
C/O Molly Fausset
200 West Washington Street, Suite 333
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Thank you for supporting our troops this holiday season!
This month and every month, I am amazed with the progress of Indiana. We are already well into the month of October, and I look forward to reporting more new developments, proud moments, and honorable work Hoosiers are doing all over the state.
Until Next Time,
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