CHESTERTON— Local and regional leaders gathered in Chesterton today to break ground on the new Duneland YMCA Healthy Living Campus, marking the first phase of development for the project and the official kick-off of northwest Indiana’s quality-of-place investments through the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative 2.0 (READI 2.0).
Governor Eric J. Holcomb established the now $1.25 billion READI program in 2021, and it has since been nationally recognized for its success. READI 2.0, which was part of the governor’s 2023 Next Level Agenda and approved by the Indiana General Assembly, allocates another $500 million to regions across the state to accelerate shovel-ready projects and programs that are expected to transform Indiana communities, attract talent and improve quality of life for Hoosiers in the short and long term. READI 2.0 funding allocations were awarded in April to 15 regions representing all 92 Indiana counties.
“Indiana’s READI program has already created substantial momentum in advancing quality of life and building vibrant communities statewide,” said Gov. Holcomb. “With the expansion through READI 2.0 and the partnership of our regions, these creative investments like the Duneland YMCA Healthy Living Campus will transform neighborhoods and better the opportunities available to Hoosiers for generations to come.”
In northwest Indiana, the region’s first READI 2.0 project will revitalize a deteriorating community building in Chesterton – the former Duneland School Corporation’s middle school – into the Duneland YMCA Healthy Living Campus. The first phase of the project is an $8 million investment (including a $1 million READI 2.0 allocation) that will repurpose the existing 225,000-square-foot building into a 105,000 square facility and 20-acre community park, substantially expanding the building’s usability and increasing daily use by approximately 300 percent.
The new campus will integrate essential services, including a Center for the Performing Arts, multiple non-profit organizations, healthcare providers, and early childhood education centers under one roof, creating an innovative space fostering collaboration within a one-stop-shop capable of addressing a variety of community health and wellness needs for Hoosiers across northwest Indiana’s seven counties. The first project phase is expected to open for community members in early 2025, with a new west façade main entrance for Duneland YMCA members. Construction of the community park, which will be named the Cleveland-Cliffs Community Park due to its project partnership, will begin in spring 2025.
“Recognition from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation as Northwest Indiana’s first READI 2.0 project is essential for driving transformative growth and development within our communities,” said Dave Kasarda, CEO of Duneland Family YMCA. “This support empowers organizations like the Duneland YMCA to enhance our services, build stronger infrastructure, and create lasting impacts in areas such as health, education, and economic growth. With this support, we can ensure that key initiatives not only thrive but also provide long-term benefits that uplift and sustain the entire community.”
READI 1.0 has awarded $487 million to 353 unique projects and programs across the state, yielding $12.6 billion invested (26:1 investment leverage ratio) in quality of life, quality of place, and quality of opportunity initiatives. READI 2.0, which secured additional funding awarded by the Lilly Endowment Inc., is allocating another $750 million to accelerate community development investments statewide. This funding is expected to attract a minimum 4:1 match of local public and private financing, yielding at least $3 billion invested to increase the vibrancy and prosperity of Hoosier communities.
Chesterton is part of the northwest Indiana READI region – led by the Northwest Indiana Forum – that was awarded $95 million total in READI 1.0 and READI 2.0 matching funds to support quality of life, quality of place and quality of opportunity projects across Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper, Newton, Pulaski and Starke counties. The region’s READI investments, including the Duneland YMCA Healthy Living Campus, are designed to create a dynamic economic environment fueled by innovation, diversity, and talent by investing in the advanced energy sector, expanding investment-ready assets, developing opportunity campuses to support communities, enhancing destination development and amplify regional innovation and creative cultures.
Learn more at IndianaREADI.com.
