MAY 16-22, 2025
IndyCar drivers love to be on the track, but securing a deep bench of sponsors is also a full-time job that’s just as important as climbing the podium. IBJ’s Mickey Shuey digs into the business of attracting corporate support. Also in this week’s issue, Cate Charron explains how Gov. Mike Braun’s scrutiny of the Indiana Economic Development Corp. raises questions about the future of a planned $100 million investment fund to be managed by Elevate Ventures and intended to help young companies scale up their businesses. And Daniel Bradley explores how the explosion in popularity for the WNBA could lead to significantly higher player salaries.
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Governor’s IEDC moves raise questions about planned VC growth fund
Almost exactly one year ago, Indiana officials publicly announced a significant entrepreneurial resource the state had been quietly working on for several years—the launch of a $100 million investment fund to help young companies scale up their businesses. A lot has changed since then.
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Country singer Clayton Anderson says his Indianapolis bars will be lively
After living in Nashville, Tennessee, for more than a decade, Anderson said he’s seen “Music City” thrive because of popular bars in Nashville’s Lower Broadway entertainment district. Now he wants to try to do the same thing in Indianapolis.
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Sponsorships drive IndyCar teams, but it’s more than a decal on the car
Teams across IndyCar and all motorsports depend on support from corporate partners, typically in exchange for placement of logos on their cars and racing suits as well as other perks like driver access and the use of hospitality suites.
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Once-hyped IU Health People Mover fades into oblivion
IU Health’s People Mover is unusual—or it certainly was at the time it was conceived—because of its use of public right of way.
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WNBA season begins as players look ahead to bigger paydays
Last October, the WNBA Players’ Association announced it would opt out of the league’s current collective bargaining agreement two years early at the end of this season.
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Derek Schultz: Indy 500 lore is filled with great drivers who came agonizingly close but never won
The old saying is that Indy picks its victor. Pato O’Ward isn’t the only incredible contestant that the iconic racing venue has left waiting on the playground to hear his name called.
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UPDATE: Roche Diagnostics to invest up to $550M in Indianapolis, adding hundreds of local jobs
The Swiss pharmaceutical and diagnostics giant said the move will establish the Indianapolis-based Roche Diagnostics site as a hub for manufacturing of its continuous glucose monitoring system.
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Westfield City Council approves major downtown development project
Plans call for Park and Poplar to have apartments, brownstones, office and retail space, and a parking garage.
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IndyStar’s executive editor exiting job to return to Colorado
Eric Larsen is the fourth consecutive IndyStar executive editor to hold the position for less than two years.
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Marian University seeks rezoning of former hospital complex, plans educational district
A state filing indicates as much as $154 million could be invested in the Larue D. Carter Memorial Hospital property in coming years by Marian University and other entities.
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Westfield looks to expand golf cart usage in city, but some oppose the move
The proposal would allow golf carts to travel on some trail sections and paths where they are not currently permitted.
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Purdue supplements construction management curriculum with hands-on training
In Indianapolis, students will be working with a construction company while they attend classes. Companies will assign students a mentor and will move them on-site, once they are ready.
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Developer plans $100M Sheridan theme park with 6-acre lake, tubing hill, ropes course
A Carmel-based developer plans to begin construction next month on SkyLake after the 126-acre project received rezoning approval Tuesday night.
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Editorial: Pacers, Fever, racing converge to make an exciting month of May in Indianapolis
Could there be a more exciting weekend of sports in any city across America?
Read MoreLesley Weidenbener: Startups deliver big, bold ideas
IBJ strayed from its usual format last week to bring you our annual Innovation Issue, which this year featured 20 startup companies worth watching.
Read MoreRick Straw: Advance ‘Made in America’ agenda with tax cuts
Rather than settle for short term wins, let’s push for lasting change. Modifying the tax code to better attract and retain investment closer to home is the best path forward.
Read MoreRyan Ritchie: Indiana must seize moment to lead in national defense
Indiana’s leaders must bolster engagement with members of Congress, Pentagon officials and the White House to ensure Indiana’s installations are front and center in national defense realignment conversations.
Read MoreIlya Rekhter: Can Bitcoin preserve its apolitical ethos with Trump on board?
American Bitcoin’s entry signals that Bitcoin mining is evolving from fringe technology to something undeniably mainstream.
Read MoreCecil Bohanon and John Horowitz: Will Pope Leo XIV build on economic principles from Leo XIII?
Pope Leo affirmed that “every man has by nature the right to possess property as his own.”
Read MoreMickey Kim: Mitch Daniels, still the epitome of servant leadership, foresees crisis
Says former Gov. Mitch Daniels: “If [tariffs are] the way of getting the attention of trading partners, … then I can understand it. All I can say is, if that’s the game, then it better work fast.”
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Indy’s first Raising Cane’s restaurant expected to open later this year
Since 2022, the Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based chicken fingers restaurant has opened central Indiana locations in Noblesville, Avon and Westfield.
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Lilly shuffles roles amid growth in U.S. investment, diabetes and obesity treatments
The company has announced more than $50 billion in new U.S. manufacturing investments since 2020.
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North of 96th roundup: Indoor golf venue, pizza restaurant among new businesses in northern suburbs
Multiple retailers, restaurants and other businesses and organizations recently opened or began planning new locations in the north suburbs of Indianapolis.
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