Randy Truitt Announces Jobs Initiatives; Receives Endorsements from IMA, Indiana Chamber and NFIB

...and also received significant campaign endorsements from the Indiana Manufacturers Association, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, and the National Federation of Independent Business. Truitt is running for the House District 26 seat which covers portions of Tippecanoe and Warren Counties.

“As a small business owner, I know and understand the difficulties and hardships that people in our local business community endure, and that is why economic development and job creation will be top priorities when I am elected State Representative,” Truitt said. “Now, more than ever, we need bold ideas and strong leadership to promote forward thinking. I have been a strong and consistent advocate of the Purdue Research Park and its growth, pushing for fiscally responsible use of TIF Districts and supporting the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation through smart incentives.”

Truitt proposed two important economic development tools that would encourage and improve business expansion and efficiency. The first part of Truitt’s plan is to make permanent the Hoosier Business Investment Tax Credit. “Currently, we must re-authorize the Hoosier Business Investment Tax Credit on an annual basis, wasting time, money and resources,” Truitt explained. “I propose making the Tax Credit permanent. This program is vital to our business community and an important economic development tool and should be made permanent.”

The tax credit program was enacted by the Indiana General Assembly in order to encourage growth and investment among manufacturing industries and to create a better climate for the creation of high paying jobs.

Truitt also outlined a plan to improve business development by reviewing wasteful programs and replacing them with new, more effective ones. “I propose taking an in-depth look at the State Economic Development Incentives and moving funding to programs that are making a difference and removing programs that are simply not getting the job done. Truitt continued, “Let’s see what’s really working, what’s not and where we can make improvements.”

Mayor of West Lafayette John Dennis was also on hand to praise Truitt for his bold plan. “Randy Truitt brings much to the table when talking about economic development. His fearless approach serves him and our community well,” Dennis said. “We don’t have to look far to find great opportunities in West Lafayette for job creation. Soon, our community will have an 80,000-square-foot Innovation Center in the Purdue Research Park that will not only provide high quality jobs, it will also generate new jobs for our local economy. Randy will bring experience, resourcefulness and an open-mind to the Indiana General Assembly and will do great things for the citizens of West Lafayette and the greater Lafayette area.”

In addition to promoting job creation, the Indiana Manufacturers Association and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce were also in attendance to endorse Truitt’s campaign for State Representative. This is the first time both organizations have jointly endorsed a candidate for State Representative.

Ed Roberts, Vice President of Human Resources, Labor, Legal and Political Matters of the Indiana Manufactures Association praised Truitt for his past work on the West Lafayette City Council and for helping to improve the economic climate in the community. “In making our endorsement decisions, the Indiana Manufacturers Association examines a candidate’s support of economic growth for the future of Indiana, and we believe that Randy Truitt is that candidate,” Roberts said. “We are confident that Randy will support the conditions of economic growth as State Representative for the citizens of House District 26.”

Michael Davis, Vice President of Political Affairs for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, praised Truitt’s work with the Lafayette business community while serving as a notable leader for the area. “Randy has proven he will promote a strong, healthy business environment in Indiana,” Davis said. “The Indiana Chamber looks forward to working with Randy when he is elected State Representative.”

Truitt was also recently endorsed by The National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small business association. “Randy Truitt is a small business owner himself and understands the challenges of running a business in a weakened economy,” said Barbara Quandt, the State Director of the NFIB of Indiana. “He will be a strong advocate for those who are creating the majority of new jobs: the small business owners of Indiana”

Truitt thanked all three organizations for their support and endorsements of his candidacy. “I am truly honored to receive support from the Indiana Manufacturers Association, the National Federation of Independent Business and the Indiana Chamber. I am also grateful for the efforts the Chamber puts forth in creating more business opportunities for Hoosiers across the state, and I appreciate their support of my candidacy for State Representative,” Truitt said. “Indiana remains one of the most manufacturing-intensive states in America. The decisions made by the General Assembly are critical to the renewal of the proliferation of good jobs for Hoosiers. When elected, I will continue to serve the interests of citizens of District 26 as well as continue to promote economic development, job creation and more business opportunities for Indiana.”

The Indiana Chamber will be working with the business community in the district to promote Truitt’s campaign. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has been the state’s largest broad-based business advocacy organization for 86 years. The nearly 4,900 member companies employ 800,000 Hoosier workers.