When I as a young professional moved back to Indiana three years ago, one of the best decisions I made to get plugged into the state was buying the $14 monthly subscription to the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ). It's the cost of a Chipotle dinner (or less, if you read further down for the discount), but exponentially more worth it. 

I love the paper's breadth and quality — I know where the action is happening in the state without missing the interesting smaller stories. I love that it's a paper that has its own orbit of people interested in advancing progress in our metropolis and state. Most of all, I love getting a nice, colored physical copy every week. It's great.

That's why, if you're looking for a gift for a young person (that means you, parents!), or a way to enhance your own life in the months ahead, I highly recommend the IBJ. It is Indiana's essential news source. 

To set the record straight: No, the IBJ did not put me up to extolling its merits. They do not pay me. Writing this was my own idea. Why? I really believe that local news is essential, and that many of my peers may never before have subscribed to local news, nor contemplated the ways it can be of significant personal benefit.

After all, we young people are busy with our friends, fun, and freedoms; social media algorithms provide plenty of news bytes, and, well, who reads newspapers, anyway? 

So today, let me spill ink and delineate the benefits of a subscription to this local news source. Subscribing and joining the IBJ community will make any young Hoosier a better citizen, accelerate his career growth, and help her enjoy the full spectrum of amenities of our great metropolis. 

1. Comprehend the exciting potential Indiana has in the near-term — and the long. 

The IBJ captures how-–and in which of the many areas—Indiana is hitting a growth spurt, which young Hoosiers can plan and strategize around. 

Indiana has federal innovation-hub designations for three next-gen industries—microchips, biotech, and hydrogen energy—and is pushing breakthroughs in agriculture and medicine. We have incredible talent development programs with our universities (Purdue, IU, Notre Dame, and more), and a business environment that is welcoming to both the likes of Lilly, Amazon, and Microsoft (yes, all are breaking ground here) and small businesses, the lifeblood of our economy. State government, and localities, are driving investment into trails, parks, and quality of place across the state, and the Indianapolis metropolis is on an upward trajectory.

2. Link up with Indy movers-and-shakers.

On top of a weekly subscription, the IBJ puts on abundant programming that attracts and creates a network of movers-and-shakers. This includes breakfasts on energy, tech, life sciences and real estate, celebrations of local executives and ambitious young professionals, and even an exclusive bourbon networking series. An IBJ subscription helps get you in the room with the state's influencers, and directly plugged into hot state conversations.

3. Have more fun around the city.

Did you know Indy recently hosted one of the nation's top chef competitions? Did you catch all the pomp and circumstance of the Taylor Swift arrival, the U.S. Swimming Olympic Team Trials, and the NBA All-Star game? Do you know where new restaurants are popping up, or where cultural festivals are? Regularly read the IBJ, and you won't miss out.

4. Track important problems you and your neighbors are facing.

Why does Indianapolis struggle with potholes? Whom should you vote for? What's being done about apartment costs and housing supply? The IBJ informs questions affecting the daily life of young people, and, far more than not in my view, in a fair and honest way.

5. Expand your horizons.

Beyond all that, there's an important yet intangible benefit that comes from consistently consuming a local news publication like the IBJ. You get a sense of what's happening outside of the horse blinders of your daily life, across the city and our whole state. You spot opportunities. You feel pride, or anger, about what's going on. Over time, digesting local news becomes empowering and helps one become a more engaged, mature citizen – a lifelong project that any person early in their life should get on.

Purchasing a subscription is an investment that's worth it, and it's already a bargain. But if you do want a discount, the publication offers a special 40% off discount for the subscription for year one (the equivalent price of seven or so burrito bowls), or a $1/week at the introductory rate for new subscribers. I hope you consider it.