By Rick Fuson, President and COO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment

For decades, local and state leaders in Indiana have rightly devoted considerable energy to debates and discussions about education, higher education, and workforce preparation. It makes a lot of sense. After all, if we are to attract and retain talent, compete for domestic and foreign investment, and ensure that communities in Indiana can thrive in increasingly competitive and complex economies, education must be our priority. And, more simply, the resources that support our students, teachers and schools are changing lives and transforming communities.

That’s why, at Pacers Sports & Entertainment, we are so proud and grateful to the General Assembly and Governor Holcomb for their truly bipartisan efforts during the 2021 legislative session to make record investments in education. These investments have the potential to be a game-changer for Indiana and include $ 1.9 billion in Additional funding during the biennium, an increase of 4.5% each year and new $ 600 million spent strictly on increasing teachers’ salaries. Lawmakers have put aside political differences to make education a priority, and this collaborative work demonstrates Indiana’s commitment to our students and will make it easier for school districts across the state to recruit and retain. the best teachers our children deserve.

Plus, Indiana is already the best in the Midwest and 4^e in the nation the extent to which financial assistance is provided to low-income students to attend college, a demonstration of our state’s commitment to supporting families who need it most. Investments made by lawmakers from both political parties over the past five years to fund the powerful 21^st The Century Scholars and Next Level Jobs programs have resulted in generational change for thousands of Hoosier families and have helped move Indiana’s school success rate closer to the 60% 2025 goal.

For companies like PS&E, which rely on a strong, educated workforce and resilient neighborhoods, these resources are essential. Closing the gaps in educational attainment is the first pillar of our own social justice agenda, because we know that education has the power to be an unparalleled equalizer. This forward-thinking approach will certainly help get the ball rolling for those kids most at risk of falling further behind.

Thank you to the entire General Assembly and Governor Holcomb for their continued commitment to building a Hoosier workforce that is among the best prepared in the country!