INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Gov. Mike Braun sent out a report on Wednesday about his administration’s progress to replace the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) with MEI (Merit, Excellence, and Innovation).

The report was compiled and sent out after Braun signed the executive order, instituting the change in January.

“Indiana has replaced the divisive, politically-charged DEI ideology with Merit, Excellence, and Innovation: a level playing field where every single Hoosier has the chance to get ahead with hard work,” Braun said in a press release.

The executive order directed executive state agencies to scrutinize their DEI policies to make sure they are compliant with the Supreme Court’s big ruling on race-based admissions from the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard case. Agencies also have to report back on how they’ve changed or eliminated programs to meet these new requirements.

Braun’s report highlights:

• 350+ examples of DEI initiatives in state government programs
• 70 cases of DEI training, instruction, or programming for state employees have been eliminated
• Hundreds of hours that will no longer be spent on DEI trainings can now be spent on serving Hoosier taxpayers
• 34 grants within Indiana State Agencies that were conditioned on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which all Hoosiers can now compete for
• 200 DEI initiatives in state agency policy and procedures, which will now prioritize the values of merit, excellence, and innovation that bring us together rather than the things that divide us

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WARSAW — Two local leaders are enthusiastically applauding Slate Auto's decision to renovate the old RR Donnelley and Sons printing plant in Warsaw into a modern auto plant that will manufacture small, inexpensive electric pickup trucks with the support of 2,000 employees.

The new start-up company, which has the backing of billionaire Jeff Bezos, intends to disrupt the auto market with highly customizable vehicles with a price point near $20,000 if an existing tax credit remains available.

[caption id="attachment_109301" align="alignright" width="300"] Here is is prototype of a Slate pickup truck. Photo provided.[/caption]

Peggy Friday said Slate's interest was already on the table when she began work as the executive director for Kosciusko County Economic Development Corporation ten months ago, meaning Slate had been eyeing the property soon after LSC Communications (which bought the Donnelley property nine years ago) closed its doors.

Friday said Slate's interest has been a top priority.

She talked about the quick turnover on Wednesday — one day after Slate confirmed their plans.

[caption id="attachment_109312" align="alignright" width="370"] The LSC Communications property on Old Road 30 was previously home to RR Donnelley and Sons for decades. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

"That campus sat vacant for less than a year. We were so fortunate to find another user — especially at this caliber — to take over that campus, and so we're just excited and can't wait to welcome them here, but a lot of work to do before now and then," Friday said.

Friday said Slate's desire to use an existing industrial site is encouraging.

"This reindustrialization, bringing back jobs to the United States, but also bringing such brand new technology and innovation to Indiana, we are just so proud that we could be competitive because they could have landed most anywhere," Friday said.

Slate Auto and Kosciusko County officials still need to work out the details of an incentive package.

The company hopes to see the first trucks roll off the assembly line in late 2026

Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce CEO Rob Parker has not been involved in the negotiations and is only aware of what’s been released by the media, but could barely contain his excitement.

"That's huge for us. It's massive," Parker said.

The arrival of Slate represents a great chance to further diversify beyond orthopedics.

"To think that entity, the size of RR Donnelley (LSC Communications), is to be full of manufacturing jobs in a separate industry than what we currently have is absolutely critical for the future of this community," Parker said.

Parker tipped his hat for the work by KEDCO, the county and the state for leading the way  in bringing the plan together.

Friday said the project has been a team effort.

Parker and Friday mentioned future plans to reconstruct US 30 and said that along with the need for more housing becomes more important.

Friday added, "It's really critical that that corridor get the attention that it really deserves and needs."

Many future employees would likely be commuting from nearby counties.

Parker is of the belief that "rising tides raise all boats."

"There's really a great opportunity for all of us to succeed with this ... it's really a wonderful thing," Parker said.

Slate is introducing a bold business model in which it sell stripped-down basic vehicles for a low price and then encourages buyers to customize.

Such a plan is unheard of in the EV market and the auto industry at large.

Friday asked i that approach was cause for any hesitation.

"No, because innovation really fits with Kosckusko County and the city of Warsaw," Friday said, pointing to plans by Grace College and Warsaw on long-term plans for an orthopedic innovation center on Argonne Road.

Another example is the arrival of Plug and Play via Zimmer Biomet, which focuses on medtech innovations with start-ups that could very well consider calling the orthopedic capital home in the future.

"We've got Plug and Play here. Everything is pointing to innovation, orthopedic technology and we just want to diversify our portfolio," Friday said. "It's really great to have a manufacturing opportunity that's as great as this one is."

She said KEDCO is always cautious in vetting companies that are showing interest in the county.

She said she believes a major announcement by Slate will happen later this summer.

"I think this is going to be a fun one to watch," Friday said. "It's new innovation, so we don't know what to expect, but I think ... hopefully, it'll be the new model of things to come."

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