Research conducted by the Thoroughbred Group found that Indiana's information technology firms had $6.5 billion annual revenue in 1999. Since 1997, Indiana's number of high-tech jobs has increased 77 percent, and annual revenues in that sector have increased by 57 percent. Indiana ranks 13th in the nation in the number of high-tech jobs, adding more than 14,000 new high-tech jobs since 1997.

A Technology Fund, or TECH Fund, is offered to Indiana companies to help train information technology workers in areas such as software development, systems networking, engineering and other advanced e-business applications. Indiana's partnership linking universities, researchers and businesses is also receiving nearly $20 million in grants from the state's 21st Century Research and Technology Fund.

The state continues to attract national and international attention for its recent high-profile economic successes. DaimlerChrysler, Toyota and Subaru-Isuzu have made big investments in Indiana. Late last year, Toyota announced an $800 million expansion of its vehicle assembly plant in Gibson County, creating 2,000 new jobs. In early 2000, AM General announced a $200 million expansion of its Hummer manufacturing plant, adding over 1,500 jobs in St. Joseph County.

The reason for such commitments can be attributed to Indiana's diversified industrial base that includes steel. Indiana produces more raw steel than any other state. In fact, in June Nucor Steel selected Montgomery County for the site of a new thin strip casting plant. The $100 million investment will be located next to its existing site just outside of Crawfordsville.

To support the project, the Indiana Dept. of Commerce provided up to $1.9 million, $75,000 of which is in Training 2000 grant money, and up to $1.6 million in Economic Dev-elopment for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credits.

Metal fabrication accounts for 9.1 percent of the state's manufacturing employment. Over 1,000 metal fabrication companies operate throughout the state.

Plastics is another industry with a strong Hoosier presence, as is pharmaceuticals.

Eli Lilly's 1999 announcement of its $1 billion expansion over the next decade was the state's largest single investment ever. It includes development and infrastructure improvements at two of Lilly's main Indianapolis campuses and the creation of new jobs in Indianapolis and other locations throughout the state where the company has facilities.

"The expansion plan reflects Lilly's recommitment to another century of growth in the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana as the ongoing hub of our global growth program," says Sidney Taurel, Lilly chairman, president and CEO.

Lilly is a major contributor to the state's economy, and this growth will result in millions of dollars in new property tax revenue for Indianapolis and new payroll taxes for Indiana, in addition to the economic multiplier effect as these additional dollars cycle through the state's economy.

"We're equally excited about the prospect of adding several thousand people to the Indiana economy as new employees of Lilly," adds Taurel. "Most of these people will be scientists, physicians, computer specialists and other technicians -- highly educated, highly skilled and highly paid."

The specialty occupations that will be added as a result of Lilly's expansion are the kinds of jobs Indiana needs to create and retain if it is to remain competitive with other states, according to a 1998 Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute study titled "The Evolution of Indiana's Labor Force."