From South Bend to Scottsburg: The State Department’s Impact on Indiana
The State Department benefits the American people by advancing U.S. national security, promoting our economic interests, providing services, and reaffirming our country’s exceptional role in the world. The State Department’s impact on the “Hoosier State” of Indiana is evident in the state’s economy, university partnerships, and law enforcement training programs.
The State Department and U.S. embassies overseas promote increased investment in the United States, bringing greater economic prosperity and creating jobs in American communities. For example, in the past few years a number of Japanese automotive companies have chosen Indiana for their expansion activities. In January 2017, Japan’s Toyota North America announced it would add 400 jobs at its plant in Princeton, investing $600 million to modernize and expand production. Japan-based automotive supplier Fukai Toyotetsu Indiana Corporation announced in June 2017 that it would invest $56.9 million to double its Jamestown facility, creating up to 103 new jobs by 2020! And, in August 2017, Japan-based Kimura Group, a global manufacturer of alloy castings for the automotive and industrial sectors, announced plans for the establishment of its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Shelbyville, Indiana, an $8 million investment. Such investments create jobs and positively benefit Indiana workers and their families.
Indiana has also hosted foreign scholars through State Department programs. Through 2018, the Purdue College of Agriculture had a Department of State partnership with the Herat University Faculty of Agriculture in Herat, Afghanistan. The partnership strengthened the teaching and research skills of Herat University faculty while simultaneously exposing faculty and students to new and innovative ideas in agriculture and development. The Afghan scholars spent up to a month on the U.S. campus taking courses, teaching seminars, and conducting research. To complete the exchange, American faculty offered courses, seminars, and mentorship in the partner institution in Afghanistan. This university partnership program supports the internationalization efforts of American universities, including in Indiana, and directly supports the United States’ South Asia strategy.
Finally, the State Department works with Indiana law enforcement to provide training to foreign police. The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) has formally partnered with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) since 2016. In 2017, at the request of INL, the IMPD conducted a two-week training program for Armenian police investigators covering criminal investigation techniques and investigative interviewing. Through the exchange of information and best practices, Armenian police better understand the workings of American law enforcement agencies, and American police officers gain greater understanding of their counterparts around the world.
In 2018, INL held a roundtable discussion with Southern Indiana (and Kentucky) law enforcement and prosecutors to discuss local and international efforts to combat the opioid crisis, including approaches to interdiction, investigation and deterrence and the effects on criminal justice systems. INL provided U.S. government international efforts to combat the influx of opioids into the U.S.
From South Bend to Scottsburg, the State Department impacts Indiana communities through economic development and exchange programs. And Hoosiers, in return, impact communities around the globe.
Find out more about the Department of State’s impact in American communities at Department of State by State.
Editor’s Note: This entry originally appeared on DipNote.
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