INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Indiana has exceeded a goal set by Gov. Mike Pence of awarding at least 3 percent of state contracts each year to veteran-owned businesses.

The Evansville Courier & Press reports that last fiscal year Indiana awarded just over 4 percent of state contracts to veteran-owned businesses.

Indiana Department of Administration data shows that those 13 contracts were worth $8 million.

Shortly after Pence took office in 2013, he signed an executive order setting a target of 3 percent of state contracts being awarded to veteran-owned businesses. 

That goal was then endorsed by the Indiana General Assembly and is now state law.

Pence said in a statement that “Indiana is more than thrilled to have surpassed this objective.” He says the state is home to nearly a half-million Hoosier veterans.