Indiana is Open for Business: August’s Jobs and Wages Wins

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 2, 2026) – Indiana Governor Mike Braun wrapped up another month of major jobs and wages wins for the state today. In August, Indiana celebrated significant milestones across defense, life sciences, manufacturing and semiconductors, with announcements, groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings for projects representing more than $5.3 billion in committed capital investment and more than 7,600 new Hoosier jobs.

 

Additionally, in August, Gov. Braun awarded the 2026 Century and Half Century Awards to 34 Hoosier legacy businesses, discussed the importance of regional collaboration at the IBJ Innovate event in Terre Haute, and applauded industry-led talent development programs.

 

The following major announcements were made in August 2026.

 

Qualis Engineered Plastics Picks Evansville for New Manufacturing Operation
A group of investors in Southwest Indiana announced plans to launch a new company – Qualis Engineered Plastics – in Evansville, reinforcing the state’s reputation as a top destination for starting and growing a business. The company will establish a custom plastics compounding operation, creating more than 30 new, high-wage jobs in the first five years.

 

Read more: https://iedc.in.gov/events/news/details/2026/08/03/governor-braun-welcomes-qualis-engineered-plastics-30-new-jobs-to-southwest-indiana

 

Toyota Material Handling North America Cuts Ribbon on $100M factory
Gov. Braun and executives of Toyota Material Handling North America (TMHNA) in August celebrated the company’s latest expansion in Columbus – a $100 million factory that will increase production of electric forklifts and create more than 140 new jobs. The expansion marks one of the company’s largest investments in North America and grows its total footprint in Bartholomew County to 1.89 million square feet.

 

TMHNA’s expansion paves the way for new job creation, adding to its team of more than 2,100 in Columbus and more than 3,400 total across Indiana. The company has invested more than $600 million in its Columbus headquarters and has produced more than 900,000 forklifts in Indiana since launching operations in 1990.

 

Read more: https://iedc.in.gov/events/news/details/2026/08/06/governor-braun-celebrates-new-100m-factory-at-toyota-material-handling-north-america

 

Comlux America Plans Major Growth, 375 New Jobs
In August, Comlux America announced plans to significantly expand its Indianapolis headquarters and aircraft completion and maintenance center, creating up to 375 new, high-wage jobs that will more than double its current workforce. The company will invest more than $22 million to upgrade its operations at the Indianapolis International Airport to meet growing demand for its aircraft cabin completions, upgrades and refurbishments.

 

The company is committed to cultivating a workplace where skilled tradespeople, engineers and aviation professionals can build long-term careers, creating quality and high-wage job opportunities for Hoosiers.

 

Read more: https://iedc.in.gov/events/news/details/2026/08/06/gov.-braun-announces-comlux-america-investing-22m-in-indiana-operations-doubling-workforce-with-375-new-jobs

 

Nucor Corporation Announces $59M Investment in Vulcraft Division
Vulcraft, a division of US-based steel manufacturer and recycler Nucor Corporation, is expanding its steel manufacturing operations in St. Joe, creating up to 20 new, high-wage jobs by the end of 2027. The company will invest more than $59 million to expand its DeKalb County operations, constructing a new 127,000-square-foot facility on its 250-acre site to manufacture steel grating products.

 

This marks Nucor’s fourth major investment in Indiana in recent years, totaling more than $495 million and 300 committed new jobs across operations in Crawfordsville, St. Joe and Waterloo, putting Hoosiers at the center of the company’s continued growth and success.

 

Read more: https://iedc.in.gov/events/news/details/2026/08/13/gov.-braun-announces-59m-investment-in-vulcraft-division

 

Gov. Braun Honors Hoosier Entrepreneurship with Century, Half Century Awards
In August, Gov. Braun recognized 34 Hoosier businesses with the 2026 Governor’s Century and Half Century Business Awards, celebrating their continuous operations in Indiana for more than 100 and 50 years, respectively. These award winners, which include renowned firms, family-owned businesses and Main Street staples, are a testament to the commitment, resilience and work ethic of Hoosiers. At the event, Gov. Braun reiterated his focus on making Indiana the best place to start and grow a business, supporting companies of all sizes and at every stage of their journey.

 

Read more: https://events.in.gov/event/gov-braun-honors-hoosier-entrepreneurship-withcentury-halfcenturybusinessawards

 

New Indiana Manufacturer Launches in Marshall County
V Tech Conversions officially announced its launch as a new Indiana company in August. The company, which specializes in producing mobile workspaces for infrastructure projects, is investing more than $2.5 million to start and scale its manufacturing operations in Plymouth, creating up to 25 new, high-wage jobs by the end of 2028. The company launched initial production in July and has already hired 11 associates to support its growth.

 

Read more: https://iedc.in.gov/events/news/details/2026/08/19/gov.-braun-growing-jobs-wages-with-new-manufacturer-v-tech-conversions-in-northern-indiana

 

SK hynix Breaks Ground on $4B Packaging Fab, Cementing Indiana Semiconductor Ecosystem
Gov. Braun and executives of South Korea-based SK hynix broke ground last week in West Lafayette on the company’s new next-generation High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) production hub, marking a $4 billion investment in Indiana that is expected to create a robust semiconductor ecosystem and power the future of memory and AI.

 

In 2024, the company picked Indiana for its first HBM production operation in the U.S. and has already cultivated an extensive ecosystem here to support its fab that includes more than 100 partner companies across materials, components and equipment. At full capacity, the fab will support 1,000 full-time, high-wage jobs while the project is expected to create an additional 6,000 jobs through construction, operations, partner companies and related industries.

 

SK hynix’s commitment to Indiana will power next-generation innovation and workforce training while putting the Hoosier State at the center of the country’s semiconductor supply chain.

 

Read more: https://events.in.gov/event/gov-braun-breaks-ground-onskhynixsemiconductor-packaging-fab-in-indiana

 

Rolls-Royce Celebrates $1B Investment Completion, Powering Indiana Defense 
Gov. Braun led a ribbon cutting with executives of Rolls-Royce in August on the company’s $1 billion, decade-long investment in its Indiana manufacturing assembly and test facilities. The investment is the largest the company has made in the U.S. and marks a significant commitment to creating high-quality jobs in Indiana for years to come while reinforcing the state’s strength in advanced manufacturing and defense.

 

The company invested in two Indiana operations, modernizing advanced manufacturing across its Indianapolis campus and adding full-engine test capability and an altitude test facility in West Lafayette. The modernization project cements Rolls-Royce’s Indianapolis operation as one of the most advanced engine manufacturing and test campuses in the world and accelerates next-generation technologies, positioning the company for long-term growth in Indiana.

 

Rolls-Royce’s leadership is powering the defense ecosystem in Indiana, which has marked $2.5 billion in committed capital investment since 2020 and a 24% increase in defense contracts during that same period.

 

Read more: https://events.in.gov/event/gov-braun-powers-indiana-defense-industry-with-1brolls-royceinvestment

 

RayzeBio Plans Radiopharmaceutical Expansion, 100 New Jobs in Central Indiana
RayzeBio Inc., a Bristol Myers Squibb Company, solidified plans to expand its life sciences footprint in Central Indiana, investing more than $173 million to establish a new 225,000-square-foot facility in Whitestown and continue growing its existing 77,000-square-foot operation in Indianapolis. The expansion will grow the company’s radiopharmaceutical manufacturing operations – further bolstering Indiana’s reputation as the Radiopharmaceutical Capital of the World – and create up to 100 new, high-wage jobs at both locations by the end of 2029.

 

This growth supports the Governor’s life sciences initiative – a commitment to investing $1 billion over 10 years in agricultural and life sciences and creating 100,000 new jobs, making Indiana the premier destination for human, animal and plant health.

 

Read more: https://events.in.gov/event/gov-braun-announces-173-million-rayzebio-investment-100-new-jobs-as-indianas-life-sciences-sector-grows

 

Indiana Businesses Like Meta Are Powering Next-Gen Workforce Training
Indiana Secretary of Commerce Chuck Goodrich joined Meta to celebrate the first graduating class of the company’s America’s Workforce Academy (AMA) — a free talent training program that propels graduates to a long-term career in a skilled trade and guarantees jobs for all graduates. The program is focused on positioning thousands of workers for AI infrastructure jobs, and Indianapolis was one of the four training center pilot locations, supporting Meta’s data center investments in Lebanon and Jeffersonville.

 

Read more: https://about.fb.com/news/2026/08/americas-workforce-academy-meta-skilled-trade-training-program/

 

Gov. Braun Highlights Regional Momentum at IBJ Innovate Indiana Event in West Central
Gov. Braun participated in a fireside chat in Terre Haute, hosted by IBJ Media as part of its Innovate Indiana series. Joined by hundreds of local and regional leaders across government, academia and industry, the Governor highlighted the importance of regionally-driven strategies for long-term community and economic development and applauded the region on its collaborative efforts to create a more vibrant, prosperous future.

 

Click here to watch a video showcasing how West Central Indiana is innovating, growing and moving the state forward.

 

Sec. Goodrich Shares How Indiana Grows Talent, Businesses and Its Economy at IEDA Conference
Sec. Goodrich delivered a keynote address at the Indiana Economic Development Association’s summer conference in August, celebrating an important partnership between the state and IEDA, a voice for Indiana’s economic development organizations. In his remarks, the Secretary shared the Office of Commerce’s focus areas and blueprint for success, emphasizing how the state collaborates with regional partners, employers, educators and local communities to build the nation’s best place to live, work, do business and invest. His message is clear: economic development is a team sport, and state and local economic development organizations are one team competing for Indiana.