The Chicago Bears have chosen Indiana to pursue a new world-class stadium, signaling they will bring one of the NFL's most recognized brands and teams across state lines.
This news should not come as a surprise to anyone who's been paying attention to Indiana over the last several years. The Bears are simply the latest – though among the most prominent – in a long line of companies, organizations and people choosing to live, grow and invest in Indiana.
The Bears did not choose Indiana by accident. They chose Indiana because our state offers something increasingly rare: fiscal discipline, tax competitiveness, regulatory predictability and a growing economy.
Under Republican leadership, Indiana has created an environment that keeps costs low for businesses and families, attracts investment, supports job growth and expands opportunity.
Indiana has passed balanced budgets for over two decades, earning our state a AAA credit rating for 17 years. We spend within our means and have the fourth-lowest debt per capita of any state in the nation.
We've reduced unnecessary bureaucracy and regulation, getting government out of the way and allowing businesses, entrepreneurs and workers to thrive. Forbes ranks our state the second best in the country to start a business, and CNBC and several others rank us in the top 10 for best business climate.
Indiana is also consistently ranked among the nation's most tax-competitive states, first in the Midwest and 10th overall by the Tax Foundation. Indiana has cut taxes every year over the last decade, providing $26 billion in taxpayer relief. That includes reducing the personal income tax each year over the last several years and putting billions of dollars back in the pockets of hardworking Hoosiers.
These low-tax, pro-growth policies are attracting people and businesses to our state. Indiana's economic and population growth are outperforming our neighbors, with recent reports showing our GDP growth rate outpacing that of Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan.
We're also welcoming more residents to our state than any of our neighboring states. More than 80 percent of Indiana's population gains are a result of people actively choosing to move into our state. Net domestic migration to Indiana more than doubled last year, demonstrating the growing appeal of our state as a place to live, work and raise a family.
In recent years, Indiana has attracted record economic development with year-over-year increases in capital investment. New jobs attracted in 2025 show average wages increasing and surpassing the national average.
People and businesses are locating here and creating thriving communities, including in Northwest Indiana which is an area of our state that's experiencing tremendous growth and potential.
When the opportunity to bring the Bears to our state presented itself, Indiana seized it. Within months, we had a deal on the table that is a major win for the state and taxpayers, with the public bond portion of the project repaid through future revenues generated at and around the stadium. The project leverages billions of dollars in private investment that will create a flywheel of new businesses, new jobs, increased tourism and new revenue, benefiting Northwest Indiana and the Chicagoland region, our state and Indiana residents for decades to come.
The Bears' decision is more than a stadium announcement. It is a vote of confidence in Indiana's future.
The same principles that attracted one of the NFL's most iconic franchises are attracting families, workers and businesses every day. Indiana is growing because we have chosen policies that promote opportunity, encourage investment and position our state and residents for long-term success.
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House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) represents
House District 37, which includes a portion of Hamilton County.
To download high-resolution photo of Speaker Huston click here.
