Braun appoints IEDC president, signals Indiana branding return to ‘Crossroads of America’

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun on Tuesday filled a high-profile vacancy at the state’s economic development agency — months after lawmakers mandated its top leadership role be split in two — and announced Indiana will reassume its “Crossroads of America” branding.

The governor tapped Department of Workforce Development Commissioner Josh Richardson to serve as the IEDC’s president.

“Josh brings a rare combination of economic insight and workforce experience,” Braun said in a news release. “He understands that growth starts with people — and that the best way to strengthen Indiana’s economy is to make sure our employers, universities, and regional leaders are all moving in the same direction. I have full confidence in his ability to continue driving the state’s momentum and to create lasting opportunity for Hoosiers.”

Until Braun’s May 1 signature, Commerce Secretary David Adams was required to be the agency’s CEO and president. But legislators separated the role. The edits were effective immediately.

The law’s author — Sen. Brian Buchanan, R-Lebanon — told the Capital Chronicle that the idea came out of collaboration with Braun’s fledgling administration, and was intended to “set up the best structure for IEDC to be successful.”

Six months later, the administration has made good on those edits. Adams will stay CEO.

“Indiana’s success has always come from its regions — from leaders who know their communities best and who build growth from the ground up,” Adams said in the release. “Josh understands the direct connection between talent and industry growth better than anyone. His leadership will ensure that the IEDC continues to support region-led partnerships that grow wages, strengthen productivity, and attract people and investment to Indiana.”

Richardson is a Blackford County native with an undergraduate degree from Ball State University and his law degree from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

DWD’s chief financial officer, Mike Smith, will step up as interim commissioner.

Braun also announced that Indiana will “embrace” its “Crossroads of America” motto.

His predecessor, Gov. Eric Holcomb, unveiled a new tourism marketing campaign — “IN Indiana” — in 2022. As part of that effort, in 2023, he put up “More to discover IN Indiana” roadway welcome signs that replaced the old crossroads signage. Also that year, IEDC got a new motto — “Indiana for the bold” — in place of the agency’s previous “A state that works” slogan.

“Indiana is proud to be the geographic Crossroads of America, and we are also proud to be at the crossroads of the nation’s leading industries, such as advanced manufacturing, life sciences, motorsports, and defense,” Braun said. “We will look for opportunities to lean into this identity and incorporate it into our work.”

A Braun spokesperson said the new branding is expected to be integrated throughout state government, including the IEDC and the state’s transportation and tourism agencies. It may look different than previous iterations.