April 12, 2024 • For Immediate Release
READI 2.0 program awards $30 million to South Central Indiana Talent Region
Governor Eric J. Holcomb and representatives of Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) announced a $30 million award for the South Central Indiana Talent Region on Thursday. The award was shared at the IEDC Board Meeting in Indianapolis, where community leaders from around the state had gathered to learn the results of the Regional Acceleration and Development Initiative’s (READI) next phase, known as READI 2.0.
The South Central Indiana Talent Region (SCITR) team is comprised of elected officials, community leaders, and economic development leaders from Bartholomew County, Jackson County, Jennings County, and the Town of Edinburgh. The SCITR team updated the regional strategic plan earlier this year and it was submitted, along with a required program application, to IEDC in February 2024. The team used the READI 1.0 application submitted in September 2021 as the baseline for the revised strategy and incorporated feedback gathered through the regional stakeholder engagement process. The project examples included in the submission demonstrated how READI 2.0 funds could be deployed locally to help the region grow several elements including population, employment opportunities, per capita income, and community assets.
All SCITR funds awarded from the READI program will continue to be administered by the not-for-profit Southern Indiana Housing and Community Development (SIHCDC), based in Columbus. The SCITR READI website will continue to house the regional READI 1.0 and READI 2.0 information, as well as next steps regarding the award announced on Thursday. The regional team will be meeting with IEDC in the coming weeks to hear additional guidance regarding how the READI 2.0 program must be administered. The team will also be hearing more about how the Lilly Endowment Inc. (LEI) $250M award program will roll out. Regions can still apply for LEI funding even if awarded READI dollars. The SCITR READI website can be found at www.southcentralreadi.com.
Contacts:
Columbus: Mayor Mary Ferdon, 812-376-2500
North Vernon: Mayor Shawn Gerkin, 812-346-3789
Seymour: Mayor Matt Nicholson, 812-522-3423
SIHCDC: Executive Director Tobi Herron, 812-376-9969
About the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI)
The Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) is an ambitious program designed to foster collaboration amongst local communities and promote data-driven, long-term. READI was launched by Governor Holcomb and led by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). With a massive $500 million fund, READI aims to foster regional collaboration and data-driven, long-term planning to bring the best and brightest to Indiana. More info at: www.iedc.in.gov/program/indiana-readi.
About South Central Indiana Talent Region (SCITR)
The region including Bartholomew County, Jackson County, Jennings County, and the Town of Edinburgh have worked together across political boundaries for more than 20 years to improve educational and employment opportunities for the region’s residents. By working collaboratively, partners of the South Central Indiana Talent Region recognize that opening doors for one another provides a host of mutual benefits: national recognition, major employer retention, and increased community success. More info at: www.southcentralreadi.com .
About Southern Indiana Housing and Community Development Corporation (SIHCDC)
The Southern Indiana Housing and Community Development Corporation (SIHCDC) is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization that functions as a regional Community Development Corporation for rural communities, with a mission to assist communities in housing, economic and redevelopment efforts in the Indiana Counties of Bartholomew, Decatur, Dearborn, Henry, Jackson, Jennings, Lawrence, Morgan, Ripley, Rush, and Scott. To assist with that mission, the agency has agreed to serve as the lead applicant for the South Central Indiana Talent Region READI proposal. More info at: www.sihcdc.org.