Credit Darron Cummings / Associated Press Gov. Eric Holcomb wants to create a new, regional development initiative that he says will help the state’s economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Holcomb unveiled the idea in his 2021 State of the State address Tuesday – which, due to security concerns across the country tied to the presidential inauguration, was pre-taped away from the Statehouse. The governor began with a somber reflection on the toll COVID-19 has had on Indiana. “It’s impossible to calculate the far-reaching ripple effect of the personal and community loss of lives and livelihoods,” Holcomb said. After that, the usual talking points: his recently-announced budget proposal, which includes hundreds of millions to spend down state debt and a $377 million K-12 school funding increase; improvements in job creation and training; infrastructure investments; the state's COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan and more.