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’s $20M READI 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’s READI Success
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.
Two of ARI’s READI 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 numerous other ARI READI projects across the region. All READI projects will be completed by the end of 2026.