STATEHOUSE – Communities across all 17 regions in Indiana will receive $500 million as part of a new, innovative state grant aimed at increasing quality of life and attracting top talent, according to State Rep. Chris May (R-Bedford).
On Tuesday, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced $30 million will go to counties in Southern Indiana, including Brown, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen, and Washington. The communities, led by the Indiana Uplands Region, submitted a regional development plan as part of a competitive grant process through the Indiana Regional Economic Acceleration and Development or READI initiative.
During the 2021 legislative session, May supported making a record investment in READI in order to encourage communities to partner and create a plan for the future.
“Southern Indiana is known for its natural beauty and cultural heritage,” May said. “This initiative brought together regional stakeholders to develop a shared vision for the future and will only help ensure more Hoosiers call it home.”
Regional development plans across the state included housing, trails, broadband, childcare and wellness initiatives, workforce development programs, and telling Indiana’s story to the world. May said the plans enumerated a nearly 10:1 capitalization leverage ratio from private and public sources as compared to the state investment.
Click here for a full list of READI award recipients and visit iedc.in.gov to learn more about the READI initiative.
