The Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority is applying for the maximum $75 million in READI 2.0 funds for the South Bend-Elkhart region, said John DeSalle, chair of the RDA.
Gov. Eric Holcomb announced in September a second round of Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative grants totaling an additional $500 million – or READI 2.0 – funds as part of his 2023 Next Level Agenda.
“Having seen the impact of the initial READI 1.0 funding, we’re aggressively pursuing the maximum $75 million allotment in READI 2.0,” said DeSalle in a press release. “The plan is projected to generate over $2 billion in direct economic activity over the next six years for the region. We hope the IEDC sees how we are embodying their statewide concept that the South Bend-Elkhart region is ‘for the bold’ – sharing our vision and strategically stacking investments to achieve the greatest return.”
During the first round of grants, the South Bend-Elkhart region received the maximum funding of $50 million in 2021. The RDA used $40 million to fun 17 projects and $6.4 million for programs. Projects included: Elkhart County’s Tolson Center and Wellfield Visitor’s Center, Marshall County’s Career Innovation Center and Culver Dunes Hosing Project, and St. Joseph County’s Madison Lifestyle District and the Mishawaka Fieldhouse. Find a complete list here.
As for the next round, six workshops helped the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership craft the next application.
“We’ve built an extremely strong application, with the focus on talent attraction and retention, housing, infrastructure, entrepreneurship and innovation, work based-learning, and post-secondary education,” said Bethany Hartley, President and CEO of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership. “With input from the regional workshops, the READI steering committee, and community and state partners, and backed by data and research, the South Bend – Elkhart region’s READI 2.0 plan is anticipated to transform our region, meeting and exceeding the state’s READI 2.0 goals and KPIs.”
READI is administered by the Indiana Economic Development Corp. Once READI 2.0 funds are approved, the selection process for doling out the funds to capital projects will begin this summer.
