Nine of the 34 projects selected for READI grant funding in the Region were approved by the Northwest Indiana Forum Foundation and the Indiana Economic Development Corp.
The Northwest Indiana Forum led the efforts to gain $50 million in Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative grant funding. A team of business leaders chose 34 projects to share the funding. The projects selected have resulted in $700 million in matching spending in Northwest Indiana.
The first round of the READI program awarded 361 projects in Northwest Indiana with more than $487 million of the original $500 million in the form of grants.
According to a press release, the nine recently approved projects are:
- Medical Resident Program: HealthLinc, Inc. — $940,000 READI / $4,438,131 total investment
- East Corporate Hangar Campus: Gary/Chicago International Airport —$1,410,000 READI / $16,410,000 total investment
- Evergreen Marketing Content Plan: Northwest Indiana Forum — $919,000 READI / $2,919,000 total investment
- Manufacturing Lab, Michigan City: Ivy Tech Community College — $258,500 READI / $485,818 total investment
- Reimagining Michigan City: Prison Relocation Study, Economic Development Corporation Michigan City — $329,000 READI / $482,333 total investment
- Rural Entrepreneurship & Innovation Taskforce: Pulaski County Community Development Commission — $65,800 READI / $75,800 total investment
- The Silos at Sanders Farm: Crow Holdings Development — $1,410,000 READI / $158,718,491 total investment
- US Cold Infrastructure to I65 and SR2: United States Cold Storage — $940,000 READI / $125,350,642 total investment
- Saxon Indiana Tract 1 Kenmara: Saxon Partners, Indiana — $1,410,000 READI / $163,152,000 total investment
The projects include initiatives to build the Region's economic strength.
“The Evergreen Marketing Plan is a bold declaration of our Region's potential and a testament to our commitment to growth,” said Heather Ennis, president and CEO of the Northwest Indiana Forum. “With this plan, we're not just promoting our assets — we're igniting a movement, inviting businesses to join us in crafting a vibrant economic landscape.”
Gov. Eric Holcomb also announced a second round of READI funding, which was part of his 2023 Next Level Agenda. READI 2.0 is backed by another $500 million for projects throughout the state.
“Innovation knows no boundaries, and there’s no limit to what can be accomplished when we work together to better the lives of Hoosiers,” Holcomb said in a press release. “This transformative program will fund projects that lean into a region's strengths while building community gathering places, accessible parks, performing arts centers and expanding the trail system that will have generational impact across each region and with every person who visits our great state.”
The 17 regions have until Feb. 23 to submit proposals to the IEDC for the second round of funding.
The Northwest Indiana Forum represents Lake, Porter, La Porte, Newton, Jasper, Starke and Pulaski counties. The Indiana Economic Development Corp.'s goal is to grow the state's economy by supporting businesses.
