Amazon potential? Indiana ranks 3rd for 2018 economic outlook
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana has ranked third on the American Legislative Exchange Council’s “Rich States, Poor States” list of best economic outlooks for 2018.
The full report, set for release Tuesday, came with a preview list Monday listing Utah, Idaho and Indiana as the top 3 states for business in 2018. In a report from The Washington Examiner, 15 different factors are cited for in the 11th annual report, including tax burdens, regulations and labor policy.
The report isn’t the first time Indiana or its capital, Indianapolis, has picked up some business journal and report limelight. Since the January 2018 announcement of Amazon’s top 20 cities for its $50 billion second headquarters, Indianapolis has enjoyed widespread publicity and favorable outlooks in at least half a dozen reputable reports.
In January, a MagnifyMoney analysis ranked Indianapolis fourth in its list of the best finalists for Amazon’s second headquarters. A Brookings Institute study also published a favorable article about the Circle City, saying Indianapolis had enough housing capacity to absorb HQ2, and that the lack of public transport might not be as bad of a factor as originally thought.
A New York Times columnist wrote “Is Indianapolis Cool Enough for Amazon? It Just Might Be,” an article that received local attention.
Then in February, regional business news group Xconomy said they liked Indy’s chances, saying “Forget Austin or Toronto, Indianapolis has what it takes to win HQ2.”
Not all publicity has been as favorable. International betting site Paddy Power gave Indianapolis the lowest betting odds of becoming Amazon’s next destination.
As the debate over Amazon’s HQ2 continues, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said the city is getting valuable publicity.
“We are now competing for economic opportunities that frankly maybe Indianapolis may not have been a site that would have been reviewed,” Hogsett said. “I think when you talk to site selectors throughout the country, they would say Indianapolis now has a new swag to it.”
Hogsett said he follows the latest Indy-Amazon buzz online, but doesn’t give it too much credit.
“We can’t honestly say what’s going on in the minds of the deciding actors at Amazon. We are hopeful. We are optimistic. I think we have put together a very competitive bid,” he said.
Hogsett said regardless of what Amazon decides, he wants to make Indianapolis a safe bet for technology companies. Since January, he’s been visiting tech companies asking what the city can do for them.
“When you spend the time to go around and listen to and engage the tech leaders of our community, I think that it helps the mayor appreciate what the tech community really needs and how we can foster even greater growth,” he said. “Finding out what’s going on, becoming more deeply embedded in their challenges, what they need, whether it’s venture capital, whether it’s more talent, what types of talent they’re looking for.”
Hogsett said he’s eagerly awaiting Amazon’s next move but says the city “isn’t resting on its laurels” and will continue to grow in technology and other industries.
“We’ve moved in these last couple years from being known as the best-kept secret in technology to really, I think, the tech capital of the Midwest,” he said. “Are we Silicon Valley? No. Do we want to be Silicon Valley? I don’t think so. I think we want to be Indianapolis.”
The full details behind the American Legislative Exchange Council’s “Rich States, Poor States” report are expected Tuesday, with explanations for why states ranked in the order they did.