(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – Indiana’s newest U.S. Senator, a Democrat, assures Hoosiers that his office can work with the office of a new governor, a Republican, to move the state forward.

“Mike (Pence) and I have served for six years together in Congress. We’re good friends,” said Senator Joe Donnelly. “The only thing that I think either of us care about is how to make the lives of Hoosier families better together. I will work with anybody if it makes our state stronger.”

As Pence was being sworn in as Governor in Indianapolis, Donnelly visited areas of Dearborn County to learn about local economic development efforts Monday. He also took time to appear at the first 2013 meeting of the Dearborn County Economic Development Initiative Board of Directors.

“I wanted to meet with this business group here to let them know that my office will be a great friend to Dearborn County and Dearborn County businesses,” Donnelly said.

Donnelly was a congressman for northeast Indiana prior to being elected senator. He told the DCEDI board that region has similarities to southeast Indiana in that the rural regions of the state have to fight for every dollar in government funds and private investment.

“It’s a passion of mine to make sure that every Indiana community is treated equally. Every region should have their share. I’m going to work non-stop to help with economic development teams from all different regions of our state,” he said.

Donnelly was being escorted through Dearborn County by new County Commissioner Kevin Lynch, who was formerly the president of the Greendale Redevelopment Commission. They stopped at Fortis Security Solutions – a security systems manufacturing company which recently relocated from northern Kentucky to Greendale – before attending the DCEDI meeting.

“They chose Indiana because of our friendly business climate and our great workforce, so I wanted to thank them for becoming a great business presence here,” Donnelly said.

Donnelly is continuing his southeast Indiana trip Monday afternoon in Madison.