Tribune-Star - The six county region in the Wabash River Development Authority has been awarded $20 million as part of the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI), which is a $500 million grant program run by the state and funded by federal COVID-19 funds.

The Wabash River region submitted more than $73 million in funding requests. The state previously announced each region would get up to $50 million.

"I am excited we got $20 million but a little bit disappointed that we did not get the full $50 million," said Vigo County Commissioner Chris Switzer.

"I know all the county leaders and city leaders and private investors put forth a lot of effort to get this done. We will work with $20 million and try to invest it as well as possible and continue to grow Vigo County and our region," he said.

"Now will be the tough part to pick which projects we can match with," Switzer added.

The Wabash River Regional Development Authority covers Vigo, Clay, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion and Knox counties. The Wabash River RDA’s requests include those on behalf of higher education institutions, public schools, libraries, museums, non-profits and public/private projects.

Among the projects originally submitted to the state through the Wabash River Development Authority are a $59 million dual-branded Courtyard and Residence Inn in downtown Terre Haute. Others include a $40 million Sports Center and East Side Aquatic feature, and a $28.5 million Fabrication, Innovation, Technology, and Engineering Center through the Vigo County School Corp.

All projects require local matching funds.

The awards were announced Wednesday by Gov. Eric Holcomb and the the Indiana Economic Development Corp.

Indiana received $512 million from the American Rescue Plan of 2021, earmarking $500 million to the READI grant program.

Jason Dudich, vice president for finance and administration at the University of Indianapolis, and a citizen volunteer for the READI Review Committee, said 60 percent of the funding went to seven applicants in six regions that represent 71 percent of the state's population.

The READI review committee, an external seven-member citizen committee, reviewed and scored the plans based on the established guidelines and against other relevant data, including historical population trends.

The awards include:

• $50 million Northeast Indiana RDA
• $50 million to Northwest IN Forum
• $50 million to Southern Indiana RDA
• $50 million South Bend - Elkhart RDA Northern Indiana
• $50 million to Southwest Indiana Regional Development Authority
• $30 million Greater Lafayette Region: Greater Lafayette Commerce Community and Economic Development Foundation
• $30 million The Indiana Uplands Region: Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Inc.
• $30 million South Central Indiana Talent Region
• $30 million to North Central Indiana Regional Planning Council (NCIRPC)
• $20 million to Wabash River Regional Development Authority
• $20 million to White River Regional Opportunity Initiative: Central Indiana Regional Development Authority c/o Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization
• $20 million 180 Alliance
• $20 million Accelerate Rural Indiana
• $15 million Indiana First Region: Southwest Indiana Development Council (SWIDC)
• $15 million Southeast Indiana
• $15 million East Central Indiana Regional Partnership
• $5 million to 70-40-Greater Mount Comfort Corridor Region: Hancock County Economic Development Council

The total requests were three times the allocated $500 million, as submissions from the 17 regions amounted to more than $1.5 billion and detailed nearly 800 projects and programs with a potential investment of $15.2 billion.

“The seventeen regions submitted innovative, creative and visionary projects that will result in a positive economic impact on Indiana’s future,” said Gov. Eric Holcomb.

The governor called the READI grants a "rising tide that lifts all boats....These project are adding up all over Indiana at the same time. We are turning our blue prints into beauty."

The regional redevelopment plans included housing, trails, broadband, childcare and wellness initiatives, workforce development programs, and telling Indiana’s story to the world. The plans enumerated a nearly 10:1 capitalization leverage ratio from private and public sources as compared to state investment.

Holcomb earlier this month said he will request a second round of funding for READI grants in 2023, when lawmakers craft the state’s next two-year budget.

Reporter Howard Greninger can be reached 812-231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com. Follow on Twitter@TribStarHoward.

West Central Indiana – The Wabash River Regional Development Authority (RDA) submitted its comprehensive READI proposal this week, totaling nearly $300 million in projects for West Central Indiana.

Through the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI), the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) tasked regions across the state to submit proposals with idea-ready and shovel-ready projects that address the overall quality of life for their region. The Wabash River RDA submitted projects spanning Clay, Knox, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion, and Vigo Counties with over $73 million in matching READI asks.

“Our application is a compilation of 42 unique projects,” states Greg Goode, President of the Wabash River RDA. “Each project is categorized into workforce development, tourism and quality of life, and entrepreneurship and innovation.”

West Central Indiana’s proposal is one of 18 regional proposals expected to be submitted. The IEDC plans to award $500 million in funding across the state. With the IEDC’s advice to utilize regional planning efforts and creative visions for the future, the Wabash River RDA submitted its proposal knowing it was bold and transformational.

“Understanding every state agency will play a role in the funding efforts over time, we didn’t want to sell our region short,” states Goode. “Our proposal demonstrates our region’s ability to uniquely compete and offer the state a profitable return on investment.”

Under the ‘workforce development’ section, projects address talent attraction and retention, specifically in terms of educational opportunities, library expansions, and career pathways. The section also includes four housing projects, each unique, as well as a project dedicated to access to quality healthcare and the important role it has in attracting workforce to the region.

The ‘tourism and quality of life’ section narrates a range of projects including aquatic features and community pools, a sports complex, museum expansions and updates, community centers, regional wayfinding, hotel projects to cater to the increase in visitors, and more.

The projects within the ‘entrepreneurship and innovation’ section include diverse projects that present a range of solutions which encourage start-ups and entrepreneurism and attract regional investment.

The Wabash River RDA’s proposal was submitted under a regional umbrella comprising of the Wabash River RDA, Thrive West Central, and West Central 2025. Together, the three regional organizations are dedicated to creating the best region to live, work, and play.

“Our region prepared for this opportunity for some time,” continues Goode. “This proposal was truly a collaborative effort with compiled planning over the last three years. So many leaders in our region came together creating the data, foundation, and projects to create such a transformational vision. This proposal showcases the best of West Central Indiana and energizes us for all the great things to come.”

The IEDC expects to make their decision on which regions will receive funding by the end of the year.

Thrive West Central