State government buildings get new signs at steep cost – Inside INdiana Business

Three new signs declaring key state slogans are now up on several Indiana state government center buildings in downtown Indianapolis.

The total cost was about $820,000. Not all was taxpayer money.

Back in 2016, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. added three signs with former Gov. Mike Pence’s “A State That Works” catchphrase to two buildings: the west side of the IEDC’s office at 1 North Capital and the north and south sides of the Indiana Government Center North building. The signs included a gear with the state’s shape inside it.

They cost about $300,000 at the time—or nearly $393,000 in today’s dollars, according to the U.S. Inflation Calculator.

Those three signs have been removed and new signs have been created and replaced by Indiana-based Signworks.

The first two have the new IEDC slogan: Indiana For the Bold. The letters are nine feet tall and span more than 120 feet across.

“The signage, which is internally illuminated to fit the new brand, will better reflect the state and its focus on the future and creating a better tomorrow for Hoosiers,” IEDC Spokeswoman Erin Sweitzer said. “These signs are also a unique opportunity to share our brand and the state’s many competitive advantages to not only Indianapolis businesses, residents and students, but also to the more than 30 million people who visit our capital city each year.”

“The signs are in prime downtown locations that are frequently shown in photo and video coverage of the city by media outlets and content creators, creating countless opportunities to share Indiana’s bold brand with potential businesses, innovators and talent around the world,” she added.

The total cost to remove the three existing “A State That Works” signs and install the two new “Indiana For the Bold” signs – was roughly $580,000. The money came from the IEDC’s existing Business Promotion and Innovation funding, which is used to promote business investment and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation.

The third signage location, on the north side of the Indiana Government Center North building, was replaced with branding from the Indiana Destination Development Corp. (IDDC). It features the “IN Indiana” slogan. 

Elaine Bedel, secretary and CEO of the IDDC, said the cost of that sign was $240,848. It was funded by the Indiana Destination Development Foundation and not state taxpayer dollars. The expenditure was unanimously approved by foundation board members on Feb. 20.

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, not-for-profit news organization that covers state government, policy and elections.

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