FULL SHOW: Inside INdiana Business 4/26/26

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway generates more than $1 billion annually in economic activity, and the broader Indiana motorsports industry supports an estimated 40,000 jobs. Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar President Doug Boles discusses the upcoming Indy 500 sellout, a $6.5 million audio upgrade, and the new Dallara-built IndyCar chassis arriving for the 2028 season, along with a new 3D scanning facility for technical inspections.Arrow McLaren's head of human performance, Ryan Harber, explains how he is transforming mechanics into athletes at the team's brand new Indianapolis racing center, with mandatory fitness training, mock pit stop practice five days a week, and a focus on mental resilience under race-day pressure.Dave Calabro, in his 41st year as voice of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, breaks down what makes reigning Indy 500 champion Alex Palou a potential generational talent. Also covered: Blake Shelton's Ole Red venue coming to downtown Indianapolis, Governor Mike Braun's INAI artificial intelligence initiative, a $150 million cancer center planned for Evansville, and the IMS Museum's first year after its $60.5 million renovation.Inside Indiana Business airs throughout May for its annual Business at the Brickyard series, examining motorsports' role in the Hoosier economy.

On this week's show, we'll follow up on the recently announced partnership between Warsaw-based Zimmer Biomet and Indiana University. Plus, we'll hear about the Indiana Orthopedic Institute embracing technology to help patients, families and staff. And we'll get a preview of next month's Business at the Brickyard series.

A $60 million public-private partnership aims to bring Israeli tech startups to Indiana, anchored by a $15 million state investment and driven by more than $30 million in Israeli entrepreneur capital. Governor Mike Braun and former U.S. Rep. Luke Messer break down the Iron Nation Indiana initiative and why they believe the Hoosier State offers an competitive advantage for global innovators in defense, life sciences, and agriculture. Also this week, Fishers Mayor Scott Faddness discusses a new $75 million luxury hotel planned next to the Fishers Event Center, the city's push to become a life sciences hub anchored by companies including INCOG Pharmaceuticals and Stryker, and the announcement that Fishers will host the first-ever Big Ten Women's Volleyball Championship this fall. Fort Wayne's Electric Works campus marks another milestone with the grand opening of nearly 300 mixed-income housing units, while Indiana's largest private employer Do it Best commits $12 million to expand its headquarters there. Plus, Bosma Industries President and CEO Jeff Mittman, a Purple Heart recipient who lost his vision in Iraq, shares how the organization serves visually impaired Hoosiers across all 92 counties. And South Korean manufacturer Hanjung America breaks ground on its first facility in Huntington, bringing a $4.5 million investment and up to 440 jobs to northeast Indiana.

Indiana's ag bioscience sector generates $82 billion in economic activity and employs more than 152,000 people. A new report from AgriNovus Indiana outlines where the next wave of growth is coming from, and what it means for entrepreneurs, investors, and the state's economy. AgriNovus Indiana CEO Christy Wright breaks down the report's findings across three focus areas: farmer-focused innovation, bio innovation, and food as health. She also details the Velocity Accelerator, a six-month program offering a $25,000 prize to early-stage founders in the ag bioscience space. Also on this edition: Indianapolis wrapped up its ninth Men's Final Four, drawing more than 70,000 fans to the national championship game and an estimated $400 million in regional economic impact. Indiana Sports Corporation President Patrick Talty looks ahead to the 2028 Women's Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium and a potential NFL Draft bid. Plus, Indiana's $6.5 billion defense industry takes center stage at the Midwest Defense Innovation Summit, TechPoint has a new CEO in Eric Christopher, and rural maternal healthcare gets a boost in southern Indiana as Daviess County Community Hospital opens a new women's health center.

Indianapolis is hosting the NCAA Men's Final Four for a record-tying ninth time, and the economic stakes are enormous. Visit Indy estimates $400 million in economic impact from the event, more than the six largest Indianapolis conventions combined generated in a single year. Chris Gahl, executive vice president at Visit Indy, explains how the city is targeting fan bases in Chicago, Detroit, and Champaign to drive tourism beyond ticket holders, and how a 60-to-70 percent convention close rate during major sporting events makes the Final Four one of the city's most powerful sales tools. For the first time, Indianapolis is also hosting national championship games across every NCAA division and the NIT simultaneously. Also covered: Eli Lilly receives FDA approval for a new oral weight loss drug; SpectronRx secures $85 million in new investment to expand its radiopharmaceutical campus near Grissom Air Reserve Base; Purdue University rolls out a mobile audiology van to combat hearing loss among Indiana farmers; a $65 billion industrial campus is proposed for Sullivan in west-central Indiana; Mishawaka-based Butcher's Bounty expands its freeze-dried pet treat business to 40 states; and Sport Graphics, the Indianapolis company behind the iconic JW Marriott bracket display, celebrates 40 years in business. Purdue head coach Matt Painter also weighs in on NIL and the changing college basketball landscape.

Indiana could soon toll I-70 from border to border, a proposal that would cost passenger vehicles roughly $16 and trucks more than $80 per trip across the state. Danville Duncan, associate professor at Indiana University's O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, breaks down the fuel tax erosion driving the push for new highway revenue and the real concerns about traffic diverting to smaller roads like State Road 40. Also covered: Indianapolis prepares for its ninth Final Four, with Post Malone headlining the NCAA March Madness Music Festival and the city hosting Division I, II, and III championships alongside the NIT for the first time ever, a combination expected to generate $400 million for the Indiana economy. Toyota is investing $200 million at its Princeton plant to boost Grand Highlander production, and Patrick Industries is rolling out a digital design studio that lets RV buyers visualize their purchase on a life-size virtual screen. Then, the turnaround story at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis. After a winless 2023 season, the football program built back-to-back winning records by adding Mental Resiliency Training, a pilot program led by Dr. Elaine Gilbert of Riley Children's Health and supported by a grant from the Riley Children's Foundation. The program is now expanding to athletes across all Indianapolis Public Schools. Plus, Fort Wayne's Science Central opens a new $3 million planetarium, the region's only public facility of its kind, and IBJ Media's Innovate Indiana series returns for a fifth year with nine stops across the state.

Indianapolis International Airport is on track for its second-busiest spring break season ever, with an estimated 620,000 passengers expected between mid-March and mid-April. Airport Authority Executive Director Mario Rodriguez joins the show to discuss a new airline, Avelo, launching nonstop service to New Haven, Conn., and Concord, N.C., on June 18, bringing the airport's total nonstop destinations to 57. Work continues on a new on-property Westin hotel and Rodriguez discusses the benefits of a $76 million parking expansion completed in 2024. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun announces a $1 billion, 10-year investment in agriculture technology and life sciences with a goal of creating more than 100,000 jobs statewide. Eli Lilly commits an additional $1.8 billion to its technology center near downtown Indianapolis and remains on schedule to begin producing medicines at the LEAP District in Lebanon. Also: a look at aviation growth at Fort Wayne, South Bend, Evansville and Purdue University airports; the Monon Corridor South Shore Line extension opening March 31; and Amish bull rider Marcus Mast representing Indiana on the PBR Unleash the Beast Tour.

The WNBA and its players union remain in collective bargaining negotiations, with players pushing for higher salaries, retired player benefits and team-provided housing. IU Columbus Associate Professor of Finance Ryan Brewer breaks down what is at stake as the league navigates its first profitable year, fueled in part by Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. Also, GE Aerospace commits $65 million to three Indiana facilities in Indianapolis, Terre Haute and Lafayette as part of a $1 billion U.S. investment plan. Plus, the Televerde Foundation helps women in Indiana correctional facilities build workforce skills through a six-month career program. And a look back at the legacy of Purdue University's Dr. Philip Low, a serial entrepreneur whose work helped launch Indiana's radiopharmaceutical industry.

Indiana’s $6.5 billion defense sector is playing a growing role as the U.S. military operates in the Middle East. Sen. Todd Young and industry leaders discuss how assets like Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane, hypersonics research, microelectronics and a new munitions campus are expanding the state’s national security footprint and supporting more than 60,000 jobs. Also in this episode, mortgage rates dip below 6% for the first time in more than three years. Indiana Association of Realtors CEO Mark Fisher explains what falling rates and rising inventory mean for buyers and sellers as the 2026 housing market begins to thaw. Plus, a Fishers filmmaker releases his short film about losing his sister to addiction on YouTube to expand its reach to students and educators. And in Plymouth, Zentis North America marks 20 years of production as the largest popping boba manufacturer in the United States.

Kylie Veleta fills in for Gerry Dick with a look at high-tech health innovation in Indiana, including Eli Lilly’s new LillyPod supercomputer built with Nvidia to speed drug discovery and development, and SpectronRx’s growing cyclotron operations fueling radiopharmaceutical cancer treatments. The episode also updates the Chicago Bears stadium push tied to Hammond and Wolf Lake, along with Illinois lawmakers’ efforts to keep the team in-state.Plus, an Indy 500 ticket design reveal and the launch of IBJ Media’s “Playmakers” podcast with Dave Calabro. You will also hear about New Shoe Day’s effort to provide properly fitting shoes for kids across Indiana and plans for new dining options and an incubator space at Indianapolis International Airport.