What is READI?
Launched by Gov. Holcomb and led by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), READI encourages regional collaboration and data-driven, long-term planning that will attract and retain talent in Indiana. The $500 million READI fund was passed by legislation during the 2021 session and was divided among 17 regions. Through READI, 17 regions across the state that represent all 92 counties are moving forward with projects and programs designed to enhance Indiana’s regions for current and future generations of Hoosiers. Collectively, the state’s $500 million investment is expected to yield an additional $12 billion public, private and nonprofit dollars invested (19.72:1 investment leverage ratio) in enhancing Indiana’s quality of life, quality of place and quality of opportunity. During the 2023 legislative session, the Indiana General Assembly passed an additional $500 million for READI 2.0.
ARI $20M READI 1.0 Award
ARI was awarded $20 million in READI funds, the highest per-capita READI award in the State of Indiana. Collectively, ARI’s $20 million READI award is expected to attract nearly $500 million in public, private and nonprofit dollars to the region. The region’s READI projects are expected to bring an additional 300 single-family homes, 300 multi-family housing units, 170 new jobs, 260 additional childcare seats, five new parks and trails, and three new tourism destinations which will attract over 170,000 annual visitors to the region
ARI $30M READI 2.0 Award
In 2024, the Accelerate Rural Indiana Region was awarded $30 million in READI 2.0 funds from the state to solidify Interstate 74’s southeastern corridor as a top destination for talent. ARI will receive over $300 per capita of READI 2.0 investment which is the largest per capita READI investment in the state. This historic investment into one of only two exclusively rural/rural-mixed regions in Indiana will accelerate growth along the I-74 corridor and reimagine one of Indiana’s greatest assets – its rural frontier.
ARI’s READI Success and Progress
In May 2023, the ARI RDA was joined by state and local elected officials and representatives from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) to celebrate the region’s early success implementing their $20 million READI award. Ceremonial READI funding checks to 16 projects across the region.
Numerous of ARI’s READI 1.0 projects have already been completed - Pirate Park in Greensburg was completed in October 2022 and a Skate Park in Batesville was completed in April 2023 - and construction is underway for several other ARI READI projects across the region. All READI 1.0 projects will be completed by the end of 2026.
ARI’s READI 2.0 Art and Culture Plan
In January of 2024, Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced a $250 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. – the largest in the organization’s history – to further the momentum of Indiana’s nationally recognized READI program. Approximately $65 million of that funding is being allocated to support this first-of-its-kind statewide arts and culture initiative to enhance quality of life and build vibrant communities across the state of Indiana. The Accelerate Rural Indiana RDA contracted the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement to complete the region’s Arts & Culture Plan.