Gov. Holcomb touts Indiana's strong COVID-19 recovery, new initiatives in State of the State address Updated: 11:23 PM EST Jan 19, 2021 Associated Press Share Updated: 11:23 PM EST Jan 19, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript REPORTER: INDIANA GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB ADMITS THAT 2020 WAS A YEAR UNLIKE ANY OTHER. BUT HE DID OFFER HOPE IN 2021, BY SAYING THAT HE AND HIS ADMINISTRATION WOULD BUILD A STATE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL HOOSIERS >> TONIGHT, I STAND BEFORE YOU IN A STUDIO WITH NOTHING IN BETWEEN ME AND YOU. REPORTER: GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB SAYS WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME WHEN PRACTICING SAFETY FIRST, HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT IN LIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC. >> SO MUCH OF OUR DAILY LIVES THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN DIFFERENT, THE WAY WE INTERACT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THE WAY, THE WHEN, THE WHERE, AND THE HOW WE WORK. HOW WE GO TO SCHOOL. REPORTER: SPEAKING OF SCHOOLS, GOVERNOR HOLCOLMB PROPOSED 377 MILLION NEW DOLLARS TO INCREASE SCHOOL BUDGETS, SOMETHING HE HOPES WILL ALLOW TEACHERS TO GET BETTER PAY. >> WHEN, NOT IF -- WHEN WE DO THIS, WE WILL BE ONE OF THE BEST IN THE MIDWEST FOR TEACHER PAY, AND WE’LL BE BETTER ABLE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TEACHER TALENT, INCLUDING ATTRACTING MORE MINORITY CANDIDATES. REPORTER: OF COURSE, THE GOVERNOR GAVE PRAISE TO HIS STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WHICH HAS ALREADY SCHEDULED OR ADMINISTERED OVER 330,000 VACCINATIONS TO HOOSIERS 70 AND OLDER. >> OSCAR WILDE ONCE SAID, WITH AGE COMES WISDOM, BUT SOMETIMES AGE COMES ALON ONCE AGAIN, HOOSIER SENIORS ARE SHOWING THE SMART ONWARD AND UPWARD WAY TO HELP, IN PART BECAUSE THEY ARE TIRED OF BEING ALONE. REPORTER: DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES OF 2020, GOVERNOR HOLCOMB TOUTED DIVERSITY AND EQUITY INITIATIVES, BETTER ACCESS FOR WORKING MOTHERS, BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY, JOB GROWTH AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, THAT CURRENTLY HAVE MORE THAN 100,000 JOB OPENINGS. >> FOR INDIANA, THE FUTURE IS NOW, AND THE WORLD CONTINUES TO HEAR INDIANA’S ENGINES ROAR. REPORTER: STEPHON DINGLE, W