Be Kind – It’s a Win-Win

While the state’s record unemployment rate is a good thing, it also means fewer workers to fill a litany of positions in every type of business imaginable. One way that companies can attract and retain top-shelf talent is to … get this … be kind! That means creating a culture of community involvement and giving back … and the statistics back it up. Check out OneZone’s latest blog detailing how this strategy can benefit your business … and peruse 3 for Thursday for your up-to-date info on issues impacting your business.

Statehouse Recap : With less than a month before the end of this shortened session, the bills representing the OneZone legislative priorities (including tobacco legislation, school safety and regional collaboration initiatives) that survived the first half of the 2020 General Assembly are moving quickly through the process. SB 1 ( raising the age of possession to 21 for tobacco as well as e-Cigarettes and or e-Liquids) was heard yesterday in the House Public Health committee but held until next week. HB 1006 (regulating tobacco products) awaits its hearing in the Senate Health and Provider Services committee. SB 246 underwent some tweaks, making it more palatable to opposing conservative groups (amended to require each school corporation and charter to comply with certain confidentiality and referral requirements) and subsequently passed out of committee by a vote of 11-1 and now heads to the House floor for amendment and vote. Meanwhile, OneZone along with the Indy Chamber spoke in favor of SB 350 in the House Ways and Means Committee yesterday, supporting a pilot program (that sunsets in 2025) for a Central Indiana Regional Development Authority (aka “investment hub”). No vote was taken, and the bill is held until next week.

The Heat is On . And we’re not talking about that fun game you play with your spouse -- adjusting the thermostat from your smartphone. Local politicos are gearing up for the May 5 primary. More races to watch: District 20 Republican candidate Scott Baldwin -- Envoy Inc. president and owner – has some competition from Gaylor Electric founder John Gaylor and Christopher Penley. Vying for retiring Speaker of the House Brian Bosma’s District 88 seat (which includes parts of northeast Indianapolis, Fishers and Geist) are former Fishers Deputy Mayor Leah McGrath and Chris Jeter, a Fishers attorney. Meanwhile, if you are not registered to vote, you need to do so by April 5. And it’s easy – Use THE INTERNET. Register to vote online by visiting  http://www.indianavoters.com/ . The site also provides access to validate voter registration status, find polling place location, look into provisional ballot status information, find county contact information, and determine “Who's on My Ballot?” for an upcoming election. (Spoiler alert: This will not be last time you hear this from OneZone!)

Community News Round Up . In the “in case you missed it” category … In the wake of the successful launch of the Joyce Winner West Branch of Carmel Clay Public Library, a $40 million main branch renovation project is scheduled to start in the fall. While the Dewey Decimal System and printed books have given way to digital and audio versions, the use of a library has morphed into a community gathering and information space. Better parking and an expanded program area will be the focus of the project. Meanwhile, Hamilton Southeastern School’s long-awaited decision on school start times took yet another pause after more than 800 people signed a Change.org petition against an earlier start time for elementary school students and a later time for high schoolers … despite a mountain of research indicating teenagers require more sleep for optimal learning. For now, only junior high students will be impacted, getting an extra 25 minutes of sleep time to arrive at school at 8 a.m. instead of the current start time of 7:35 a.m.