For Immediate Release 

June 23, 2026 at 11:30am 

Indy Chamber Supports Proposed Operating Referendum for Indianapolis Public Education 

The organization representing Central Indiana’s business community applauded IPEC for advancing responsible, sustainable funding for center-city schools. 

INDIANAPOLIS. The Indy Chamber supports an operating referendum at a rate of 37.2 cents per $100 of assessed value for the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation (IPEC), which includes both Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and charter schools operating within IPS boundaries. The Chamber urged the IPEC board to advance the measure during its meeting Monday night. 

The Chamber’s support reflects a clear but difficult balance: securing the strongest possible investment for students at the lowest responsible cost to taxpayers. 

“The Chamber recognizes the importance of balancing critical assets like public education with affordability and consistency for taxpayers,” said Matt Mindrum, president and CEO of the Indy Chamber. “This is a position we don’t take lightly. But the stakes are high – strong public schools are critical for families, the workforce, and the long-term competitiveness of the Indy region. A failure to secure sustainable operating support would create instability as we are seeking to build a more coordinated and effective public education system.” 

The IPEC was created during the 2026 Indiana Legislative Session to help better align resources and functions like transportation and facilities for IPS and the public charter schools within its boundaries. The goal is to bring greater coordination, transparency, and accountability to a public education landscape that has too often been fragmented and difficult to navigate. Future operating referendum revenue will be distributed to IPS and participating charter schools. 

The Chamber believes the 0.372% operating referendum provides a fiscally responsible foundation for that work, while also addressing critical gaps in funding. 

The current IPS operating referendum expires in December 2026, ending nearly $50 million in annual operating support. At the same time, IPS is managing a current operating deficit of roughly $40 million and has already identified $24 million in reductions for the 2026–27 school year. 

The Chamber believes this moment calls for shared responsibility, not a single solution placed entirely on taxpayers. Changes in state funding have created real challenges for schools across the state, and Indianapolis is no exception. But taxpayers — many of whom are already facing serious affordability pressures — should not be asked to carry the full weight alone.  

Our support is built on three commitments moving together: greater state investment in special education and English language Learners, common-sense cost sharing with Innovation Network schools, and time-limited taxpayer support through an operating referendum of up to four years and up to a 0.372% rate.  

Based on local and national benchmarks, we believe this funding level is sufficient to create — and, more importantly, sustain — best-in-class public schools in the heart of Indianapolis. That does not eliminate the need for hard choices. Education leaders must still right-size the district’s footprint, improve efficiency, and focus resources on what most directly drives student success. Taxpayers are being asked to make a serious commitment; it is fair to expect the system to do the same. 

“This historic level of investment in schools within IPS boundaries provides Indianapolis with an opportunity to build and sustain a strong foundation for best-in-class schools in the heart of Indianapolis,” Mindrum said. “Combined with the charge of the IPEC, this will set up students and our city’s future for long-term success. That is what our students deserve and what taxpayers should expect.” 

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About the Indy Chamber 

The Indy Chamber serves as a regional voice for progress, uniting business and community to strengthen the Indy region’s economy and quality of life. Through bold advocacy, economic development, and small & mid-size business support, we help fuel growth, expand opportunity, and position the region to compete and thrive. Working alongside civic, corporate, and community partners, the Indy Chamber focuses on attracting investment, developing talent pathways, and elevating the Indy region’s story. Guided by our core values – Love Indy, Dream Big, and Move Together – we bring leaders together to shape the conditions for growth and build a future where the Indy region leads the Midwest and competes on a global stage. 

For Immediate Release 

June 15, 2026 at 10am 

Indy Chamber and IU Indianapolis Sports Innovation Institute Release New Business of Sport Study  

Research finds Indianapolis has built one of the nation’s most concentrated sports economies and emerged as a leading market for sports careers, leadership, and industry growth. 

INDIANAPOLIS. The Indy Chamber, in partnership with the IU Indianapolis Sports Innovation Institute (SII), today released a new research study examining the structure, scale, and economic performance of Indianapolis’ sports industry, finding that the region has built one of the most concentrated and fastest-growing sports economies in the United States. 

The report, The Business of Sport: How Indianapolis Built the Most Powerful Sports Economy in America, provides a comprehensive analysis of Indianapolis’ sports sector as an economic cluster, benchmarking the region against peer and aspirational U.S. metros across employment concentration, economic output, workforce development, and leadership representation. 

Among the report’s key findings: 

“This report quantifies what Indianapolis has spent decades intentionally building,” said Matt Mindrum, President and CEO of the Indy Chamber. “Our sports economy is not defined by a single franchise or marquee event. It is the result of sustained civic collaboration, institutional leadership, and long-term investment that has created one of the most balanced and economically impactful sports ecosystems in the country.” 

The study was developed through a formal research partnership between the Indy Chamber and the IU Indianapolis Sports Innovation Institute, bringing together sport management faculty, applied researchers, graduate students, and economic development leaders to evaluate Indianapolis’ sports business ecosystem through a workforce and economic development lens. 

“For years, Indianapolis has been recognized nationally as a premier host city for major sporting events,” said Dr. Liz Wanless, Director of the Sports Innovation Institute and Associate Professor of Sports Analytics at IU Indianapolis. “In sport, we often talk about leadership representation through individual stories or by one organization at a time. What this analysis does is quantify whether opportunity is actually distributed across a city’s ecosystem. Indianapolis’ performance on broad citywide metrics shows that women’s leadership is not just visible here, it is consistent and structurally embedded across the professional sports market.” 

The findings build on earlier collaborative research examining women’s leadership representation across Indianapolis sports organizations and expand the analysis to evaluate the broader business infrastructure powering the region’s sports economy. 

The report highlights how Indianapolis’ competitive advantage extends beyond major events through a network of professional teams, governing bodies, higher education institutions, sports technology companies, motorsports organizations, venue operators, and civic partners working together to support long-term growth. 

That model has earned increasing national recognition. In 2026, Sports Business Journal ranked Indianapolis No. 3 among the nation’s Best Sports Business Cities, citing the region’s concentration of sports organizations, infrastructure investments, event portfolio, and long-term strategic vision. 

The findings reinforce what regional leaders have long understood: Indianapolis’ sports economy was not built around a single event or organization, but through decades of coordinated investment that transformed sport into a driver of economic growth, workforce development, and national competitiveness. 

The full report is available at www.indychamber.com/indy-partnership/the-business-of-sport/ 

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About the Indy Chamber 

The Indy Chamber serves as a regional voice for progress, uniting business and community to strengthen the Indy region’s economy and quality of life. Through bold advocacy, economic development, and small & mid-size business support, we help fuel growth, expand opportunity, and position the region to compete and thrive. Working alongside civic, corporate, and community partners, the Indy Chamber focuses on attracting investment, developing talent pathways, and elevating the Indy region’s story. Guided by our core values – Love Indy, Dream Big, and Move Together – we bring leaders together to shape the conditions for growth and build a future where the Indy region leads the Midwest and competes on a global stage. 

About the IU Indianapolis Sports Innovation Institute 

The IU Indianapolis Sports Innovation Institute (SII) advances research and applied learning at the intersection of sport management, data science, and innovation. Through faculty leadership and graduate student engagement, SII partners with industry and civic organizations to produce actionable insights that strengthen the sports ecosystem. 

INDIANAPOLIS – (May 4, 2026 at 8am) The Indy Chamber, in partnership with Mirror Indy, today announced the launch of the IN Focus Award, a new initiative designed to support and elevate local businesses through strategic storytelling and targeted digital visibility. The IN Focus Award is supported through an investment match program by the Indy Chamber and Mirror Indy, in which the Indy Chamber will contribute $10,000 to fund the program’s advertising campaigns. Mirror Indy will match these dollars with over $26,000 advertising funds. This combined investment ensures selected businesses receive meaningful visibility through sustained, high-quality digital placements designed to drive awareness and engagement. 

The IN Focus Award will provide selected Indy Chamber members with sponsored advertising campaigns across Mirror Indy’s platforms, connecting businesses with a highly engaged, community-focused audience. The program reflects a shared commitment to strengthening Indianapolis’ small business ecosystem and amplifying the stories behind the businesses shaping the region. 

“Small businesses are essential to the vibrancy and growth of our regional economy,” said Emily Koshnick, Vice President of Membership. “Through this partnership, we’re not only helping businesses expand their reach, but also ensuring their stories are seen and heard by the communities they serve.” 

Selected recipients will receive customized digital advertising campaigns, including placements in Mirror Indy’s daily and weekly newsletters and on its website, along with performance insights to support future marketing efforts. 

Mirror Indy’s audience, comprised largely of engaged, civically-minded residents across Marion County, offers a unique platform for businesses looking to grow their visibility while connecting with their local community. 

“At Mirror Indy, our mission is to inform and empower the community,” said Bro Krift, CEO of Free Press Indiana. “Partnering with the Indy Chamber on the IN Focus Award allows us to extend that mission by empowering local businesses reach new audiences and strengthen their presence.” 

Applications for the IN Focus Award are now open to eligible Indy Chamber members. Businesses interested in applying can learn more HERE. 

About Mirror Indy 

Mirror Indy is a nonprofit local newsroom providing community-based journalism informing and empowering Indianapolis residents to shape their city for the better. Through daily and weekly newsletters, mirrorindy.org, and local live journalism events, Mirror Indy delivers free, accessible local news and storytelling. It is the first newsroom developed by Free Press Indiana whose mission is to fill gaps in local news coverage across the state of Indiana. 

About the Indy Chamber 

The Indy Chamber serves as a regional voice for progress, uniting business and community to strengthen the Indy region’s economy and quality of life. Through bold advocacy, economic development, and small & mid-size business support, we help fuel growth, expand opportunity, and position the region to compete and thrive. Working alongside civic, corporate, and community partners, the Indy Chamber focuses on attracting investment, developing talent pathways, and elevating the Indy region’s story. Guided by our core values – Love Indy, Dream Big, and Move Together – we bring leaders together to shape the conditions for growth and build a future where the Indy region leads the Midwest and competes on a global stage. 

INDIANAPOLIS (Apr. 30, 2026 at 8am). This week, the Indy Chamber and its Life in Indy livability initiative, representing the 10-county Indy region, announced the launch of Speed City, an immersive digital advertising campaign accelerating the story of the Indy region. As the next phase of Life in Indy’s regional storytelling efforts, this campaign will target both local residents and prospective movers looking to make Indy home across digital platforms for the next several months. Inviting residents to connect with what drives them and the role the Indy region plays in their journey, Speed City is an accelerated step into the next chapter of Indy’s story as the best place to accelerate life, career, and business.

“Indy often shares its story as a collection of assets rather than an emotional connection,” said Joe Pellman, Vice President of Marketing & Communications for the Indy Chamber. “There’s no denying that we have amazing offerings as a community, but progress is personal. The Speed City campaign provides a narrative to showcase what drives the passion and purpose of individuals across this region we choose to call home.”

Powered by dozens of local partners and built in collaboration with Pivot Brands and Bayonet Media, Speed City emphasizes Indy as the place to accelerate your life, career, and community under the banner of the region.

Intention and Impact Through Narrative

Over the last two years, the Indy Chamber has worked with hundreds of local employers and civic partners to elevate Indy’s story through national media pitching, talent attraction, messaging development, and content collaborations. Research during this process revealed a lower sense of civic pride among Indy residents compared to peer markets, outlining the need for storytelling that builds local advocates while highlighting the uniqueness of the community. The Speed City campaign is the latest iteration of this strategic imperative, and an opportunity to elevate the emotional connection residents share with their region.

“As a region, Indy is always in motion, evolving, improving, learning, and building toward what’s next,” said Martina Jackson, Sr. Director of PR & Communications, Indy Chamber. “This campaign accelerates that momentum through authentic, lived experiences and amplifies our region’s voices at a speed uniquely Indy’s own.” 

Speed City is marked by sustainable partnerships reaching across sector and industry to champion Indy’s own voices. A collaborative print issue of PATTERN Magazine, vinyl record pressing of a new Rob Dixon Speed City album, and custom apparel from premium collegiate vintage vendor Homefield are just the beginning. Speed City is building something authentic for each Indy region resident to make their own, and providing a platform for Indy to start telling its regional story.

Next Steps

Following its official launch date on April 28, Speed City will reach audiences across the Indianapolis region, as well as two additional out-of-state target regions in the Midwest. Digital social media ads, video spots, and more will emphasize Indy’s strength as an accelerator and hub for community. Inviting everyone to call Indy home, the Speed City campaign will run throughout the summer of 2026 to build on the momentum of the INDY: I’m Not Done Yet campaign in Q1.

Today’s Speed City campaign was preceded by an open call for video submissions in alignment with Life in Indy’s INDY: I’m Not Done Yet project. These personal submissions demonstrating the drive and purpose behind Indy’s momentum culminated in a public celebration at the Inaugural Story Summit on Apr. 27, 2026 — National Tell a Story Day. At the event, resident-submitted stories were featured alongside other content from Life in Indy’s creative partners, and a keynote address from community leader Anthony Murdock II. Two selected video creators received a concert prize pack in partnership with Forty5, presenting Rock the Ruins with Citizens Energy Group on the Speed City Stage.

### Press Kit & Video Assets Available Upon Request 
For interviews and event images, please contact Martina Jackson, Senior Director of PR & Communications at [email protected].

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About Life in Indy 
Life in Indy is the Indy region’s livability initiative and a community-driven storytelling effort designed to attract and retain talent across the 10-county region. Serving as a digital front door for those exploring a move to Indianapolis and a resource for those already here, Life in Indy reaches thousands of monthly users through articles, videos, and first-person narratives that showcase the people, places, and experiences that define life in the region. Through partnerships with local voices and its Indyfluencer network, the initiative amplifies authentic perspectives and helps more people envision their future in the Indy region.

About the Indy Chamber

The Indy Chamber champions a stronger regional economy by connecting people, supporting business, and shaping places that thrive. From bold advocacy to smart economic development and inclusive business growth, we bring together public and private leadership to keep the Indy region moving forward. As we work to strengthen the foundation of our economy, we focus on big ideas, fast action, and a deep commitment to the communities we serve. With momentum, collaboration, and pride in our region, the Indy Chamber is building a future where the Indy region leads the Midwest and competes on a global stage.