High-speed internet is considered a necessity in many households, but often for streaming movies and other entertainment purposes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it truly became a vital resource. Without it, students couldn’t take classes online, employees couldn’t attend virtual meetings, and doctors couldn't treat patients through telemedicine.
That's why the Indiana House of Representatives has passed a bill that sets priorities for awarding grants from the state's rural broadband fund.
“The bill will prioritize areas where we can expand services to schools and rural health clinics, so that we can really make sure that they're addressing the great needs that COVID has highlighted,”
said State Representative Chris Campbell, who represents District 26 in the Indiana House of Representatives.
Campbell, whose district includes Purdue University and most of West Lafayette, was speaking to students, faculty and industry leaders at the spring conference of Krannert School of Management's Global Supply Chain Management Initiative. Held virtually on Feb. 19, the conference was entitled “Supply Chain Resilience in the COVID Age."
Campbell highlighted bills that arose from the pandemic, including several designed to revitalize the state's economy.
One of them, House Bill 1004, would create a small business restart grant program in the hospitality sector. To help them recover and restart, small businesses would receive grants of up to $50,000 each. The $30 million grant program would be administered through the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC).
"There has been a great impact on a lot of our local business," Campbell said. "I know we've lost a lot of restaurants that we're going to miss in our community."
Another bill would allow home-based food vendors to sell their products in person, by phone or through the internet, and permit delivery to consumers. If signed into law, House Bill 1103 would take effect on Jan. 1, 2022 and may help create many home-based businesses.
"It's an excellent way for people to start a new small business without spending thousands of dollars on a commercial kitchen and it's going to expand the channel of trade by which vendors can market their products," Campbell said.
The food vendors may also have more opportunities to grow food through another bill, which establishes urban agricultural zones. According to House Bill 1283, a designating body may exempt the urban agricultural zone wholly or partially from property taxes.
Among the other bills that Campbell reviewed is one that regulates personal delivery devices, including the Starship delivery robots that are familiar sights on Purdue's campus.
Under House Bill 1072, the delivery devices may not operate on any highways or state routes, must be covered by insurance, and are exempt from motor vehicle licensing and registration requirements.