Governor Braun visits community leaders in South Bend, highlighting recent economic success

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Governor Mike Braun visited South Bend Wednesday to meet with community leaders, emphasizing the recent growth in the economy. 

He says unemployment rate is down to nearly 3.3% and wants to continue to reduce it. 

Governor Braun addressed several questions from those in the audience, ranging from affordability to gas prices, to how to keep young adults in the state of Indiana.  

He's waived the gas sales tax three times and plans to do so again.  

"I'll look at that again in early November," he tells ABC57.  

"[If] the dynamics look the same, I'm likely to extend it. That would take us to early December."   

Governor Braun says the state being able to waive the gas tax so many times is something other states cannot afford and wish they could do. 

A member from the audience asked Governor Braun if suspending the gas tax is affecting costs going to roads and infrastructure, and he says it's fine for now, but a long-term solution is needed.  

The Governor also weighed in on his stance on data centers. He says he is not against data centers, as long as they meet four criteria:  

"Pay more for electricity, put more onto the grid, put money into the community [and] don't take it out and explain that you're not using water – you're recycling it."  

Governor Braun also said there's new deals in the works to bring more international companies to Indiana.  

Currently, Indiana has more than 1,000 international companies that employes over 220,000 Hoosiers. Governor Braun says bringing more international companies could continue to reduce the unemployment rate. 

"Jobs like welding, electrician, being a mechanic -- those jobs pay more than 90% of most 4-year degrees, where you can start making money right out of high school. That is attracting companies from around our country and internationally."