Indiana
Indiana’s Heartland BioWorks Hub to receive $51M in CHIPS Act funding – Inside INdiana Business
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Indiana is set to receive $51 million in federal funding to kick-start its workforce development and startup support initiatives as part of the new Tech Hubs Program, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced Tuesday morning.
Indiana’s Heartland BioWorks Hub was one of 12 hubs chosen to split $500 million in implementation funding stemming from the CHIPS and Science Act and administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. The CHIPS and Science Act was co-authored by U.S. Sen. Todd Young of Indiana. CHIPS is an acronym for Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors.
The award builds on the state’s initial designation last October as one of 31 federal hubs across the country (chosen from nearly 380 applicants). The Heartland BioWorks Hub is also one of three hubs based in Indiana and is meant to convene an innovation-focused ecosystem of companies and research entities in targeted sectors.
“Indiana’s new tech hub designation has opened our state up to a next level of opportunities,” Gov. Eric Holcomb said in a statement early Tuesday. “Now that we have been awarded nearly $51 million to support the implementation, it’s full steam ahead in workforce development and building the specific talent pipelines to support the exact type of innovative business growth and entrepreneurship we want.”
The allotment is a “tremendous” win for the Applied Research Institute, the hub petitioner and organizer, and the larger state biotech sector, CEO David Roberts told IBJ. The award is a reflection of the decades of state and private investment in the animal and plant sector, he said.
Roberts attributed the award to industry leaders in the state—such as Eli Lilly and Co., Corteva Agriscience and Elanco Animal Health—and higher-education partners, including Purdue University, Ivy Tech Community College and Indiana University, who have embraced and collaborated in these efforts.
“What we do know is … that is a region that is ready with all the right ingredients to be really kind of supercharged for growth over the next few decades,” Roberts said. “That probably is something that set us apart.”
Indiana is home to three federal tech hub designations, which Roberts said is an “overwhelming” accomplishment. The state also houses the Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Commons Hub, which received $33 million initially and is awaiting more funding decisions within the year, and the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen, or MachH2, Hub, which could receive upward of $1 billion in grant funding.
“We really put these three on the board and said, ‘We got to win at least one of these,’” Roberts said. “We’re just humbled and thrilled that we’re now three for three.”
The funding serves as a “seal of approval that we are this global leader in biotech manufacturing and will be for the foreseeable future,” said Andrew Kossack, executive vice president for partnerships and general counsel for the Applied Research Institute. “It’s just great news for the state and a great recognition of [Young’s] efforts.”
New programs, grants and a headquarters
The money will fund several initiatives falling into two buckets: workforce development (a top priority across the board for ARI) and support for early-stage companies.
Kossack said the hub’s workforce development programming seeks to supply the growing industry with needed workers. ARI will work with its higher-education partners to develop training and upskilling programs specifically for the sector.
Another program will allow early-stage entrepreneurs and companies to apply for grants to access often cost-prohibitive product-development facilities. ARI also seeks to build a network of resources, funding opportunities, mentors and facilities to support young, innovative companies.
The two priorities converge through the creation of a training and demonstration facility, referred to as BioWorks HQ, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis, Kossack said. Several training programs will be launched out of the location, and startup leaders will have access to wraparound support.
It boils down to creating a “flywheel” of talent and activity, Kossack said, leading to more employers establishing themselves in Indiana.
The next step for ARI with the bioworks hub is to negotiate contracts. After that, more details and timelines will be available.
ARI said anyone interested in learning more or getting involved with the hub and its programs should reach out to heartlandbioworks@theari.us or connect through the hub website.
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Indiana
Is ‘The Bachelorette’ happening? This Carmel contestant weighs in
ABC pulls upcoming ‘Bachelorette’ season. Here’s what to know
A Carmel man and former Purdue basketball player was set to compete on this season that won’t air.
Should ABC air the canceled-for-now season of “The Bachelorette”? A Carmel man who was set to compete on it seems to think so.
Matt Carroll, a 43-year-old Purdue basketball alum and Carmel resident, took to social media over the weekend to address the cancelation of season 22 of “The Bachelorette,” on which he appeared. Public opinion on whether the show should see the light of day is split, but the former Boilermaker forward and industrial real estate broker hopes the footage makes it to air.
Disney and ABC pulled season 22 of “The Bachelorette” because its lead, “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Taylor Frankie Paul, faces an ongoing domestic violence investigations. The network announced the decision March 19 after TMZ leaked a video from a 2023 domestic violence incident involving Paul and her ex Dakota Mortensen.
Neither Carroll nor the show have officially commented on the cancelation, but that doesn’t mean he and other contestants haven’t hinted at their feelings on social media.
Carroll’s Instagram reel — in which he struts through the streets of Carmel, rose in hand, RAYE’s “Where the Hell is My Husband” soundtracking it all — breaks the ice. “So…about that,” he joked, tagging both “The Bachelorette” and Bachelor Nation, the franchise’s official hub for news and content.
The reel has garnered comments from fellow Carmel residents wishing Carroll well, even offering to set him up with local singles. Notably, though, some of Carroll’s followers have called for the season to air — and he agrees.
“Trying to manifest that they still air this,” one comment from model Brittany Mason reads. “America wants it the world wants it!”
“From your lips to God’s ears,” Carroll replied.
Another response from him put it more plainly:
“I’m still hoping they decide to air it.”
Whether “The Bachelorette” will air is unclear. Disney Entertainment Television’s official statement only indicated that it was halting the season “for now,” so it’s possible the network could dust off the footage and air it after all.
Contact IndyStar Pop Culture Reporter Heather Bushman at hbushman@indystar.com. Follow her on X @hmb_1013.
Indiana
Game times announced for Saturday’s Final Four in Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament’s Final Four is set.
Four teams have advanced to the Final Four and will compete for the national championship this upcoming weekend in Indianapolis.
The two national semifinal matchups will take place on Saturday. Tip times for the two games have been announced:
- 6:09 p.m. EDT – No. 3 seed Illinois vs. No. 2 seed UConn
- 8:49 p.m. EDT – No. 1 seed Michigan vs. No. 1 seed Arizona
The winners of Saturday’s games will then play in the National Championship Game on Monday, April 6.
Each game will take place inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
Indiana
Hundreds gather at Indiana State Capitol for ‘No Kings’ protest
INDIANAPOLIS — Hundreds of Hoosiers gathered at the Indiana Statehouse Saturday morning as part of nationwide ‘No Kings’ events to voice their concerns about the current administration.
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Hundreds gather at Indiana State Capitol for ‘No Kings’ protest
“I’m out here today because what’s happening in our government is completely trash,” Donna Sipes told WRTV. “It’s wrong. We need to do something about it.”
“I’m tired of every single day when the TV comes on to see what stupid thing he’s done next,” Lindi Marti said.
WRTV
Attendees noted the growing popularity of the demonstrations.
“This is my fourth one to come to. I didn’t come to all of them when it was really cold, but I’m glad to see that they are getting a lot more people out here every time,” Marti added. “It seems like there’s more and more coming.”
Demonstrators highlighted specific foreign policy concerns, including the administration’s handling of the war in Iran.
“We’re bombing the heck out of them. We’re killing civilians,” Marti’s husband said. “We’re getting ready to send our Marines.”
WRTV
Others focused on the administration’s handling of immigration.
“That’s what I’m concerned about,” Reverend Kenny Little told WRTV. “Little kids, they’re taking them away from their family. And I’m just one of those people, I think everyone got rights.”
Indiana medical students also attended the rally to speak out against changes to the healthcare system.
“We’re really worried about the attacks on the health care system in general, but with Medicaid… current estimates range from anywhere from 325,000 to 450,000 Hoosiers will lose coverage by 2032,” Wade Catt said with concern.
WRTV
With midterm elections approaching later this year, attendees emphasized the importance of now taking action at the ballot box.
“If we don’t vote, then things are gonna not, they’re gonna stay the same,” a protester said.
Meanwhile, Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith says he’s happy to see Hoosiers exercise their First Amendment right to protest.
However, he takes issue with the idea that President Trump is acting like a king. Beckwith says the fact that people have the freedom to protest is proof that the president is not acting like a tyrant.
He acknowledges that bridging the gap between the sides is probably an uphill battle, but believes communication is key.
“I think when you sit down with people face to face, you’re confronted with humanity. There’s another human sitting across that table from you and talking to you. And so, all I have to say, I think that’s probably the thing I would encourage all Hoosiers to do is say, ‘Hey, if you don’t agree with somebody or if you don’t like somebody, why don’t you try grabbing coffee with them? And give it 30 minutes, and just see what happens.’ I bet most of the time people will walk away with a much softer heart and spirit towards that person before they came in,” Beckwith said.
Beckwith is currently on a 92-county tour of the state. He says all sides are welcome to attend his events.
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