Brad Chambers

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Brad Chambers
Indiana Secretary of Commerce
In office
July 6, 2021 – August 6, 2023
GovernorEric Holcomb
Succeeded byDavid Rosenberg
Preceded byJim Schellinger
Personal details
BornJune 25, 1964 (age 59)
Indianapolis, Indiana
Political partyRepublican
SpouseCarol Chambers
Children1 son
EducationIndiana University Bloomington

Bradley Buckingham Chambers (born June 25, 1964) is an American businessman and former Indiana secretary of commerce, serving from 2021 to 2023.[1] A member of the Republican Party, he unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor of Indiana in 2024.[2]

Early life[edit]

Chambers graduated from Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. He received his Bachelor of Science from Indiana University Bloomington, majoring in finance, where he also founded his real estate investment firm, Buckingham Companies.[3]

Buckingham Companies[edit]

Chambers founded Buckingham Companies, a national a real estate investment firm as a student at Indiana University Bloomington in 1984.[4]

He currently serves as the president and CEO.[4] The company’s portfolio exceeds $3 billion and has assets in nine states.

Public service[edit]

Indiana State Fair Commission[edit]

Chambers was appointed as chairman of the Indiana State Fair Commission by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb in March 2018.[5] He served until taking on the role of Indiana secretary of commerce in August 2021.[6]

Indiana Secretary of Commerce[edit]

Chambers was appointed as Indiana secretary of commerce and president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) by Governor Holcomb in June 2021 under a two-year contract.[7]

During his two-year tenure, the IEDC attracted more than $30 billion in committed capital investment, including Indiana’s first two electric vehicle battery facility investments and first microelectronics investments.[8] In 2022, the IEDC had its first year exceeding $9 billion in committed capital investment since its creation in 2005, attracting $22.2 billion.[9]

As president of the IEDC, Chambers oversaw the Regional Economic Acceleration & Development Initiative (READI), a program to “promote strategic investments that will make Indiana a magnet for talent and economic growth” through an initial $500 million investment in regional development.[10][11] When the program officially kicked off in June 2022, Chambers stated that the “unprecedented initiative sets the national standard for grassroots regional collaboration and development.”[12]

LEAP Lebanon Innovation District[edit]

Under Chambers’ leadership, Indiana and the IEDC pursued the creation of the state’s first megasite for research and innovation, known as the LEAP Lebanon Innovation District.[13]  LEAP stands for Limitless Exploration/Advanced Pace.[14]  

Situated in Boone County along I-65, the 9,000-plus-acre district is located roughly halfway between Indianapolis and Discovery Park (Purdue) and has been compared to Research Triangle.[14] According to the IEDC, the district offers “diverse settings—megasite, advanced manufacturing, mixed-use and corporate campus—all on an SSI-certified (Strategic Site Inventory) site.”[13]

In May 2022, Eli Lilly and Company announced it would invest $2.1 billion in a manufacturing site at the district and create 500 new jobs, with an additional four indirect jobs for every position the company created, becoming the first company to locate within the district.[15] In April 2023, at the groundbreaking, the company announced it would invest an additional $1.6 billion at the site and create 200 more jobs, making the largest manufacturing investment at a single location in the company’s history.[16] At the time, Chambers noted "the future is bright at Lilly LEAP Lebanon."[17]

The district has faced criticism from residents in Boone County as well as Tippecanoe County, home to a potential source of water for the district, the Wabash Alluvial Aquifer.[18] In September 2023, the IEDC released initial findings of a central Indiana water study that indicated “that the aquifer will be able to support central Indiana demand without impacting the aquifer of the Wabash River.”[19]

Indiana Global Economic Summit[edit]

During Chambers tenure, in May 2022, the IEDC hosted its first global economic summit to showcase the Indiana economy and tell "the Indiana story to the world."[20] The multi-day event featured 75 speakers, 30 international delegations and 900 registrants, including industry leaders and foreign dignitaries.[21]

During the summit, Chambers announced the creation of the state-level Accelerating Microelectronics Production & Development Task Force (AMPD) in an effort to make Indiana a leader in the semiconductor industry, noting the state's "deep advanced manufacturing DNA."[22]

U.S. Investment Advisory Council[edit]

Chambers was appointed to the United States Investment Advisory Council by United States Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo in August 2022. The council was first chartered in April 2016 and serves as the principal advisory body to the commerce secretary on the promotion and retention of foreign direct investment to the United States.[23]  

2024 Indiana Republican gubernatorial primary campaign[edit]

In August 2023, after months of speculation, Chambers launched his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor of Indiana and became the last candidate to enter the race.[24] His campaign focused heavily on economic issues, including wage growth and economic growth, repeatedly stating he believes “the number one job of a governor is to grow the state’s economy.”[25][26]

He was endorsed by former Indiana 5th Congressional District Congresswoman Susan Brooks, Michael Andretti, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and former Lawrence Mayor Steve Collier. He was also endorsed by Recenter Indiana PAC, the political action committee of the bipartisan group Recenter Indiana, whose mission is to “help push Indiana politics back to the center.”[27][28]

He released multiple policies throughout the campaign on online safety for children, public safety, China, education and the economy.[13][29]

Chambers funded much of his own campaign and finished third in the six-way primary with 17.5% of the vote behind United States Senator for Indiana Mike Braun (39.5%) and Lieutenant Governor of Indiana Suzanne Crouch (21.7%).[30][2]   

See also[edit]

See also: 2024 Indiana gubernatorial election

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Brad Chambers launches campaign for Indiana governor". wthr.com. 2023-08-17. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  2. ^ a b Downard, Whitney (2024-05-08). "Braun nabs early win in the Republican primary for governor • Indiana Capital Chronicle". Indiana Capital Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  3. ^ Davies, Tom (2024-04-24). "Brad Chambers sells himself as 'business guy' to lead Indiana". State Affairs. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  4. ^ a b Napier, Nic. "Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers to step down amid rumors of gubernatorial run". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  5. ^ "Gov. Holcomb Makes Appointments to State Fair Board, Commission". State of Indiana. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  6. ^ Staff, I. B. J. (2021-09-23). "AgriNovus leader appointed chairman of Indiana State Fair Commission". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  7. ^ Burris, Alexandria. "Buckingham Cos. founder and CEO named Indiana Secretary of Commerce". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  8. ^ "2023 IEDC Top 25 SOC" (PDF). Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
  9. ^ Muñiz, Leslie Bonilla (2022-12-15). "Companies invest $22B in Indiana this year, create 24k new jobs • Indiana Capital Chronicle". Indiana Capital Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  10. ^ "Overview". Indiana Economic Development Corp. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  11. ^ Lange, Kaitlin. "Holcomb announces regional redevelopment grants. Here's how much central Indiana won". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  12. ^ "Nationally Recognized READI Program Kicks Off in Indiana". Indiana Economic Development Corp. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  13. ^ a b c Downard, Whitney (2024-03-19). "Chambers releases detailed economy plan in gubernatorial bid • Indiana Capital Chronicle". Indiana Capital Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  14. ^ a b Blanchard, Peter (2022-12-30). "2022 Year in Review: State pursues innovation district in Boone County". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  15. ^ "Eli Lilly to invest $2.1 billion in Lebanon manufacturing sites". Fox 59. 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  16. ^ Russell, John (2023-04-17). "Lilly to invest another $1.6 billion in Boone County site, add 200 jobs". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  17. ^ "Lilly commits additional $1.6 billion, 200 jobs to Boone County operations". WRTV Indianapolis. 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  18. ^ Blanchard, Peter (2023-11-01). "Group forms in opposition to LEAP District water pipeline". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  19. ^ "IEDC Releases Initial Results from Water Study". Indiana Economic Development Corp. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  20. ^ Brown, Alex. "Chambers: Summit Will Bring the World to Indiana". Inside INdiana Business. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  21. ^ Staff, I. B. J. (2023-06-29). "IEDC planning second Global Economic Summit". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  22. ^ Mills, Wes. "New Indiana Task Force to Face Global Microchip Shortage". Inside INdiana Business. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  23. ^ "Secretary Chambers Appointed to US Investment Advisory Council by US Secretary Raimondo". Indiana Economic Development Corporation. August 25, 2022.
  24. ^ Herron, Arika. "Brad Chambers makes gubernatorial bid official". Axios Indianapolis.
  25. ^ Downard, Whitney (2024-03-19). "Chambers releases detailed economy plan in gubernatorial bid • Indiana Capital Chronicle". Indiana Capital Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  26. ^ Chronicle, Indiana Capital (2024-04-19). "Entrepreneurship drives Brad Chambers' campaign for governor". Daily Journal. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  27. ^ Kelly, Niki (2024-04-17). "Centrist PAC endorses Chambers in gubernatorial primary race • Indiana Capital Chronicle". Indiana Capital Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  28. ^ "Indiana governor". ReCenter Indiana. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  29. ^ Smith, Casey (2024-01-18). "Indiana GOP gubernatorial hopeful highlights tech, career training in education policy plan • Indiana Capital Chronicle". Indiana Capital Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  30. ^ "Brad Chambers reaches $10M in self-funding for governor campaign". State Affairs. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
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