Manufacturing News
October 15, 2026
October 15, 2026 · Statewide · Story 1 of 5
Indiana Opens Applications for Advanced Nuclear Ready Communities Program
The Indiana Office of Energy Development is now accepting applications under a program Gov. Mike Braun announced in July: counties, cities, and townships can apply for Nuclear Aware, Nuclear Prepared, or Nuclear Ready designation based on workforce readiness, site preparation, and formal agreements with developers. A designation does not authorize construction on its own. Indiana Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources Suzanne Jaworowski said in the program's October news release that the framework is meant to reduce developer risk by completing site assessments and community alignment before a developer shows up.
The Indiana Office of Energy Development is now accepting applications under a program Gov. Mike Braun announced in July: counties, cities, and townships can apply for Nuclear Aware, Nuclear Prepared, or Nuclear Ready designation based on workforce readiness, site preparation, and formal agreements with developers. A designation does not authorize construction on its own. Indiana Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources Suzanne Jaworowski said in the program's October news release that the framework is meant to reduce developer risk by completing site assessments and community alignment before a developer shows up.
Indiana is competing for a small pool of developers. First American Nuclear has floated a $4 billion energy park without a confirmed site. Indiana Michigan Power is seeking federal funds for an Early Site Permit near Rockport. And Eli Lilly's April letter of intent to study small modular reactor feasibility at the LEAP District in Boone County suggests industrial power buyers, not just reactor builders, may be the real audience for a Tier 3 badge.
For your morning huddle
- Q
If a nearby county or township reaches Tier 3 'Nuclear Ready' status, are we positioned to bid into the SMR supply chain (pressure vessels, heat exchangers, specialty forgings) that FANCO, I&M, and BWX Technologies will need to source domestically?
Developers like First American Nuclear and Indiana Michigan Power will need to source those components domestically, and a Tier 3 badge nearby is worth tracking as an early indicator of where that procurement will open up.
Briefing note
- Impact
- Indiana isn't the only state chasing this: Nebraska has four SMR siting candidates already identified, Minnesota funded a statewide nuclear construction study, and North Carolina is tying fossil retirements to new nuclear, meaning Indiana's badge system is competing for a finite pool of developers like First American Nuclear (FANCO, $4B energy park, 5,000 jobs, no site yet) and Indiana Michigan Power (seeking federal funds for an Early Site Permit near Rockport). Eli Lilly's April 2026 letter of intent to study SMR feasibility at the LEAP District in Boone County suggests the real audience for a Tier 3 badge may be industrial power buyers, not just reactor builders.
- Watch
- Which county or township becomes the first to publicly claim Tier 1/2/3 status, and whether Indiana's parallel push for NRC Agreement State status (which would hand the state direct licensing authority) advances this winter.
Sources
- Applications Open for Indiana's Advanced Nuclear Ready Communities Program · buildingindiana.com
From the brief, October 15, 2026
- Indiana Opens Applications for Advanced Nuclear Ready Communities Program
- Kratos Breaks Ground on Radar and Hypersonics Facilities in Odon
- SK Hynix Ties New U.S. NAND Fab to China Equipment Approval
- Husted's Ohio Roundtable Tackles the PJM Capacity Price Increase Behind Indiana's Power Costs
- LaGrange's Manufacturing Day Offers a Workforce Pipeline Lesson for Indiana
This story
Related
Manufacturers Energy Grant Program
Free for Indiana manufacturers
Manufacturers from qualifying Indiana counties receive a free monthly 35-point audit of their electric bills for cost recovery and savings. Every line item checked and validated, every opportunity found comes with a step-by-step guide to capture it.
EDCs: sponsor this program and it carries your organization's name For economic developers →