South Bend-Elkhart innovation surges, Kem Krest reinvents health benefits, Indiana’s top family dining spots

In this week’s Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, South Bend and Elkhart step into the spotlight as part of the Innovate Indiana Series, with more than $1 billion in investment reshaping downtown South Bend, New Carlisle, and beyond. Mayor James Mueller and President and Chief Executive Officer at the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership Bethany Hartley outline the region’s momentum in talent, tech, and quality of place. Plus: Kem Krest’s CEO explains how the Elkhart-based supply chain firm is saving hundreds of thousands in health care costs by cutting out the insurance middleman. Reid Health expands its direct-to-employer care model to Carmel, partnering with Beacon Health to open an on-site clinic and reduce premiums. From brisket grilled cheese to dessert chicken and waffles, Yelp’s Brittany Smith highlights Indiana’s top family-friendly restaurants in this month’s Trendiana. Hillrom’s legacy ends as Hillenbrand sells to a private equity firm in a $4 billion deal. Allison Transmission secures a $97 million contract for the Army’s Abrams tank program. Elkhart’s housing and innovation surge with the opening of the Momentum Entrepreneurship Hub and a new 150-unit development on a former brewery site. University of Evansville rides postseason success in volleyball, baseball, and soccer to record athletic revenue. And Goshen’s mayor says the RV Capital of the World is also building its entrepreneurial future—with dinosaurs drawing more than 100,000 visitors to the new Indiana Dinosaur Museum. Get the latest business news from throughout the state at InsideINdianaBusiness.com.

In this week’s Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, Bombardier, the maker of the world’s fastest private jet, announces a major new service center at Fort Wayne International Airport—bringing 100 high-paying aerospace jobs and a boost to Indiana’s growing aviation and defense economy. Plus: Reid Health in Richmond becomes one of the first hospitals in the U.S. to fully integrate smart AI patient rooms—giving nurses more bedside time and less screen time. DePauw University lands an $80 million gift to launch a new athletic complex, while Franklin College moves forward with a $9.5 million restoration of a historic gym. And from spatulas to stadiums: The World Food Championships bring chefs from 42 states and 15 countries to Indianapolis for one of the world’s top culinary competitions. Culinary Crossroads founder Larry Dickerson shares how Indiana is aiming to become a national food destination. Also: Indiana-based Dormakaba modernizes mobile entry tech at Lucas Oil Stadium Parkview Health expands into Indy’s 16 Tech DigIndy Tunnel project complete after 14 years New Gulf War Memorial in D.C. designed by Indy’s CSO Architects Get the latest business news from throughout the state at InsideINdianaBusiness.com. 00:00 Show Intro & Upcoming Stories 00:27 Bombardier's Investment in Fort Wayne 02:31 Inside the Bombardier Deal: Jobs and Partnerships 04:20 Aerospace Sector Impact & Community Growth 06:49 CSO Architects and Gulf War Memorial 07:56 Reid Health: AI Leading the Charge in Healthcare 09:56 How Smart Patient Rooms Transform Care 11:07 Empowering Clinicians, Supporting Rural Indiana 12:53 AI, Virtual Nurses, and National Attention 13:09 Parkview Health's Central Indiana Expansion 13:34 DePauw University’s Fundraising & Sports Expansion 16:09 Franklin College Renovation & Indiana Education News 17:28 Major Business Deals & Indiana's Auto Industry 19:10 DigIndy Tunnel Project & State Infrastructure 19:35 Upcoming: Culinary World Eyes Indiana 22:19 High-Tech Entry for Colts Fans at Lucas Oil 23:21 World Food Championships Spotlight Indianapolis 25:19 Culinary Crossroads: Growing Indiana’s Food Scene 27:02 Vision: Indiana as Culinary Sports Capital 28:11 Closing & Indiana’s Largest Festival

Plug and Play, the global accelerator behind Dropbox and PayPal, is expanding its Indiana footprint, launching a new biosciences program at IU’s 16 Tech campus. Caterpillar, FedEx, and Amazon announce expansions across the state, while Corteva confirms a corporate split that could impact more than 1,500 Hoosier jobs. Rick Lertzman’s legacy gets the red carpet treatment at Heartland Film Festival as Indiana’s creative economy—worth more than $10 billion—takes the spotlight. IBJ Media’s Creative Economy Summit in Fishers explores how Indiana can harness its artistic and cultural assets for economic development and talent retention. Science Central in Fort Wayne welcomes new leadership with a STEM-focused vision for inclusivity and engagement. Get the latest business news from throughout the state at InsideINdianaBusiness.com.

In this episode of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, Noblesville scores a major national win as USA Gymnastics selects the city for its new headquarters, training and wellness center. Mayor Chris Jensen explains how the deal came together and what it means for Indiana’s push to be the global epicenter of women’s sports. Plus: Purdue University partners with Virgin Galactic for a suborbital space flight crewed entirely by Boilermakers. The 2027 mission will conduct zero-gravity research in real time. A homegrown startup earns FDA approval for the Butterfly BVM, a safer resuscitator now heading to national EMS markets. Purdue head coach Matt Painter discusses NIL, recruiting challenges, and Purdue’s push for another Final Four run on Hoosier soil in 2026. Lilly announces a $6.5 billion plant in Houston to manufacture a weight loss pill, while construction continues at the $13 billion LEAP District in Lebanon. Hoosier startup Compact Medical gears up for national launch at the EMS World Expo in Indianapolis. Prolific’s Growth Summit and the Rally Innovation Conference draw global leaders to Indy. Bloomington tops $1 billion in capital investment, while Amazon’s new Elkhart facility adds 1,000 jobs. Elkhart RV dealer show highlights new innovations, and Subaru ends legacy production in Lafayette. And in Warsaw, Magical Meadows breaks ground on a therapeutic riding center expansion to serve veterans and people with disabilities. Get the latest business news from throughout the state at InsideINdianaBusiness.com.

In this episode of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun outlines his economic vision during an extended interview, highlighting property tax reform, regional development, and the need for small business investment. He also shares his take on the rising number of data centers and unveils his plan to build a "quantum corridor" across Indiana. Plus: Orthopedic laser therapy company relocates its headquarters to Warsaw, adding to the state’s global leadership in orthopedics. Eli Lilly announces a $5 billion investment in Virginia, while construction advances on its $13 billion LEAP District site in Boone County. Fire departments and Ivy Tech team up to provide hands-on training for the next generation of first responders. IBJ Media’s Innovate Indiana Series stops in Muncie to explore the region’s economic future and Ball State’s new village redevelopment project. FARMWISE program connects Indiana farmers to wholesale buyers and schools. Sweetwater prepares for its second annual Guitar Fest. New $100 million in upgrades coming to three Indiana state parks.

In this episode of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, the $1.4 billion I-69 Ohio River crossing project connecting Indiana and Kentucky reaches a critical milestone. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Gov. Mike Braun, and Sen. Todd Young visit the construction site, highlighting the project’s national significance for trade, logistics, and economic development. Plus: Indianapolis hosts the inaugural TED Sports Conference, drawing global sports leaders and spotlighting the city’s 2050 vision to become the epicenter of sports innovation. Indiana University and Pacer Sports & Entertainment team up on a new women’s sports performance research initiative. IU and Indiana State University report record enrollment, while near space education programs expand in Grant County. RoboSource lands investment from Tim Tebow to expand AI-driven workforce tools in Fishers. Purdue builds a custom guitar to honor late Colts owner Jim Irsay, set to be carried before every game this season. Get the latest business news from throughout the state at InsideINdianaBusiness.com.

This week on Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick, downtown Indianapolis' premier sports venues are getting major upgrades. Lucas Oil Stadium is set for $9.5 million in improvements, including a Wi-Fi overhaul, while Victory Field will replace most of its 30-year-old seating. CIB Executive Director Andy Mallon discusses the importance of keeping Indy competitive for major events like Final Fours and Super Bowls. Also in this episode: A tribute to Colts owner Jim Irsay, with players wearing jersey patches in his honor Basketball Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings shares details on the $98 million Marvella Center, the nation’s first girls sports leadership facility Ganggang’s Butter fine arts fair expands to Los Angeles after five years of national attention Cook Medical and Indiana University partner on next-gen medical research and workforce training IU Health adds a new $1.4 million Mosaic Center to help community members find health care jobs Semiconductor growth in Indiana drives urgency for workforce development, per Connexus Indiana  Start your dollar a week trial now at ⁠⁠IBJ.com/trialoffer⁠⁠ Check out our event lineup and register now at ⁠IBJ.com/RSVP⁠ Discover which programs are accepting nominations now at ⁠⁠IBJ.com/Nominate⁠

This week on Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick, college football returns—and with it, big economic impact across Indiana. From Notre Dame’s $36 million tourism boost to IU’s record-breaking ticket sales and Purdue’s $16 million game day contributions, we break down how fall Saturdays support local businesses and community development. Finance professor Ryan Brewer also weighs in on the shifting college sports landscape, including NIL pressures, naming rights deals, and the future of generational fandom. Also in this episode: Senator Todd Young outlines his bipartisan “Ships for America Act” to restore U.S. shipbuilding—highlighting Indiana’s potential role in the national effort IU Health's newest staff member: Meet Elliott, a therapy dog focused on supporting hospital staff’s mental health Inside the Business of IndyCar: Heartland Food Products and Ed Carpenter Racing find the winning formula with speed and caffeine Parkview Health expands with a new $150M hospital in Lebanon  Start your dollar a week trial now at ⁠⁠IBJ.com/trialoffer⁠⁠ Check out our event lineup and register now at ⁠IBJ.com/RSVP⁠ Discover which programs are accepting nominations now at ⁠⁠IBJ.com/Nominate⁠

This week on Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick, Gary Mayor Eddie Melton shares what a $3 billion investment from Nippon Steel means for the city’s future. From a convention center project to blight removal and the return of the air show, Gary is turning the page. Also in this episode: A Butler grad’s patented helmet insert aims to protect cochlear implants and empower the deaf community Earlham College helps lead Richmond’s $100 million downtown revitalization A behind-the-scenes look at the 38-story Signia by Hilton transforming Indy’s skyline Google plans a $1B data center in Indianapolis Fort Wayne, Columbus, and Wells County launch projects to enhance art, recreation, and industry Yelp highlights five hot new restaurants across Indiana  Start your dollar a week trial now at ⁠⁠IBJ.com/trialoffer⁠⁠ Check out our event lineup and register now at ⁠⁠IBJ.com/Register ⁠⁠ Discover which programs are accepting nominations now at ⁠⁠IBJ.com/Nominate⁠

This week on Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick, we head to Westfield where the LIV Golf Tournament at Chatham Hills puts the city on the international stage. Mayor Scott Willis shares how events like Colts Camp and the new Ed Carpenter Racing facility at Grand Park are fueling more than $250 million in downtown development. Also in this episode: Erskine Green Training Institute's new vocational program at Riley Hospital for Children helps Hoosiers with disabilities enter the workforce OrthoPediatrics expands with new locations in the U.S. and Ireland Brownsburg and Dearborn County announce major manufacturing investments New Haven unveils a $31 million youth sports complex Purdue launches a new graduate degree in sports management Ivy Tech partners with Cyber Pro AI for hands-on cybersecurity training Pete Dye’s legacy celebrated at the LIV Golf Tour in Westfield Duke’s Honky Tonk in Indianapolis announces closure after seven years  Start your dollar a week trial now at ⁠IBJ.com/trialoffer⁠ Check out our event lineup and register now at ⁠IBJ.com/Register ⁠ Discover which programs are accepting nominations now at ⁠IBJ.com/Nominate⁠