A $15 million award — part of the first round of Lilly Endowment-funded READI grants — will power efforts to transform downtown Gary.
On Sept. 30, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. approved $15 million to bolster the Indiana Regional Development Authority’s redevelopment efforts in and around the Gary Metro Transit Development District. The award builds on $12 million already committed by the City of Gary and the RDA. It brings total local and state investment in downtown Gary blight elimination to $27 million over the past 19 months.
“Our team has worked closely with IEDC and the City of Gary over the past several months to secure this award,” said Sherri Ziller, RDA president and CEO, in a press release. “This additional funding will allow us to clean up more properties and, even more importantly, provide incentives for new development.”
The grant will advance three initiatives outlined in Mayor Eddie Melton’s Greater Gary Community Revitalization Effort:
- $5 million for renovations at the Hudson & Campbell Center adjacent to Gary City Hall
- $5 million for blight elimination and redevelopment in the Holy Angels neighborhood
- $5 million for redevelopment within the Transit Development District.
“This $15 million commitment from the IEDC is a powerful endorsement of the vision we have for a revitalized downtown Gary,” Mayor Eddie Melton said. “It's an investment in the future of our city, directly fueling the goals of the Greater Gary Community Revitalization Effort. We are building momentum, and this funding is key to turning our plans into reality for our residents.”
Governor Mike Braun said the funding reflects a broader, statewide strategy.
“These Lilly Endowment investments are not just cleaning up blight — they’re opening doors to new housing, jobs and opportunities that will keep more Hoosiers living and thriving here at home,” Braun said. “We’re building on what works: region-owned growth, supported by the state, to create lasting impact for every corner of Indiana.”
The Gary grant is expected to support $126.5 million in total investment in the city’s downtown. Statewide, the 17 grants announced total $131 million in awards, projected to unlock over $1.6 billion in investment.
