BlackRock/AES deal, Sacred Places grants, small-business initiatives | Politics

According to several reports, BlackRock-owned Global Infrastructure Partners is nearing a deal for the acquisition of AES Corporation for $38 billion.

Rep. Gregory W. Porter, D-Indianapolis: “AES customers have had enough. They’re already paying high monthly bills that are constantly increasing. Indy residents have no other choice but AES for electricity. They’re stuck with whatever people in power give them.

“Private equity firms should have no stake in utilities that are needs, not wants. If AES is sold to BlackRock, residents’ bills will rise even more. Indy residents will continue to be priced out of the utilities they need to survive.

“BlackRock is clearly cornering the utilities market to get rich off the rise of AI. They’re heavily invested in coal-fired power plants, and just yesterday, they purchased Aligned Data Centers—the writing is on the wall. Companies like BlackRock are building up their shares in every facet of this data center push, and they’re ready to suck our working families dry.

“I strongly advocate that the City of Indianapolis purchase AES Indiana and make it a public charitable trust, like Citizens Energy Group. We have to start seeing the people, not the profit they offer.”

Fourteen congregations around the state have received grants from Indiana Landmarks’ Sacred Places Indiana Fund to address significant capital needs at their historic houses of worship.

From the press release: “The awards mark the third round of grants since the fund was established in 2023 with support from Lilly Endowment Inc.

“Sacred Places Indiana will distribute $2.4 million.”

David Frederick, director of Indiana Landmarks’ Sacred Places Program: “We continue to receive calls for help from congregations who need assistance in maintaining their historic facilities. By offering this critical funding, we hope to help congregations and parishes continue to thrive as spiritual centers and use their landmark buildings in ways that support and serve their communities.”

On Wednesday, Governor Mike Braun visited Indiana businesses in Elkhart, Allen and Boone counties.

From the press release: “Governor Braun spoke about his initiatives to support Hoosier businesses, including the new Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Power Up Indiana initiative to support upskilling for the Hoosier workforce, and ensuring maximum efficiency for taxpayer dollars on incentivized jobs committed to the state, which now have an average hourly wage of $41.

“Governor Braun began the day with a ribbon-cutting on a new Amazon fulfillment center in Bristol. This new facility will employ 1,000 Hoosiers who will work alongside robotics to fulfill orders.

“Governor Braun highlighted Indiana’s important role in American logistics and distribution as the Crossroads of America and the asset that this new fulfillment center will be for the broader Elkhart-South Bend area.

“Next, he toured Northern Indiana Anodize, a Main Street business in Fort Wayne. This business has seen tremendous growth since opening their first location in 2018 and is a great example of the dynamic job creation happening in the Fort Wayne region. Last week, Governor Braun celebrated another Fort Wayne win when Bombardier announced their first Midwest service center.

“Next, Governor Braun visited Frances + Parke, a Main Street brick-and-mortar retail business in downtown Zionsville.”

Braun: “Indiana’s economy is growing, and today I visited three businesses that are creating jobs in their communities: from a new Amazon fulfillment center creating 1,000 jobs near Elkhart, to a great local manufacturing company serving the Fort Wayne area, to a Main Street brick-and-mortar retail business in Zionsville, Indiana is supporting job creators and helping them grow.”