SPECIAL INTERVIEWS

Prioritizing Workforce Development Over the last few years, workforce development has been a top priority for Indiana. Both the Senate and House of Representatives have authored workforce-related bills and included them on legislative agendas, and Gov. Eric Holcomb has made it a part of his five pillars. Having a skilled workforce is vital to our state’s success. There will be more than one million jobs available in the Hoosier state over the next 10 years as the baby boomer generation retires and more companies choose to grow or locate in Indiana. Our job market will be thriving, but Hoosiers need to be ready to fill these high-demand positions. In recent years, Indiana’s government leaders have worked to implement job-ready programs that help Hoosiers gain the skills necessary to obtain high-wage, high-demand jobs and assist employers by offsetting the costs associated with training employees, among other things. This session, my colleagues and I will continue to address Indiana’s workforce development efforts in order to further prepare Hoosiers for the future. Century and Half Century Business Awards The Indiana Economic Development Corporation is now accepting applications for the Governor’s Century and Half Century Business Awards. The awards, which will be announced in the spring, honor Indiana businesses that have operated in our state…

Merry Christmas from State Senator Mark Messmer… Merry Christmas By State Sen. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper)   This time of year is always special as friends and families gather together to celebrate the holidays. All of us have our own Christmas traditions like going to our favorite church service, making a special recipe that we only make this time of year, or heading to holiday parties. For me, Christmas is all about spending time with my family. With our children grown and moved out, it’s always special for my wife and I to have our kids under our roof once again and sharing meals together. We spend our time making Christmas candy, fudge, ginger bread cookies, truffles and various other Christmas cookies. When our children were younger, they would help us with the baking and help pass out our sweets to friends and family as gifts. Growing up, my mom had the idea for her and all of my siblings to play our musical instruments as we performed Christmas carols as a family. We’ve kept this tradition going with our family band of around 25 people visiting the nursing homes in the area. Another tradition my family has is attending our church’s midnight mass. In high school,…

In his weekly report, State Senator Mark Messmer gives us a Thanksgiving Message… Thankful for Time with Family By State Sen. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper)  The holiday season is officially upon us. Families and friends are gathering together for Thanksgiving, and Christmas is just around the corner. The times we share with loved ones at the table brings families together and creates life-long memories and traditions. Thanksgiving has been celebrated in our great country ever since George Washington proclaimed that Americans should acknowledge the presence of God and give Him “our sincere and humble thanks.” In fact, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day in the midst of the Civil War. He wanted all Americans to remember the gracious gifts that had been bestowed upon them even as war was tearing the country apart. Each family has its own holiday traditions, but food is typically the centerpiece for Thanksgiving with families gathering together for turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans and other fall favorites. I always enjoy deep-frying a turkey for my family to enjoy along with homemade pumpkin pie and made-from-scratch dressing. My wife and I also take time during the weekend to put up our Christmas decorations. While I’m getting everything set up outside, she…