Indiana First Region Receives READI 2.0 Award of $15 million
SOUTHERN INDIANA (April 11, 2024) – The Indiana READI 2.0 award announcements have been received and the Indiana First Region has been awarded $15 million, according to Chris Pfaff, Indiana First Chair and CEO of Knox County Indiana Economic Development. Prioritizing quality of life, place, and opportunity, the five-county region is prepared to generate extensive investment for Hoosiers in respect to housing, business development, innovation, and talent attraction.
The Indiana First Region, which includes Harrison, Knox, Perry, Pike, and Spencer counties have been steadfast at advancing their key priorities of Talent Attraction, Business Development, Development Viability, Housing, and Quality of Life and Place, through READI 1.0 funds, private capital investments, and regional collaboration. The first round of READI 1.0 funds began the catalyst movement of housing and infrastructure demands needed to support current and future Hoosier residents by the development and ongoing construction of nine (9) housing projects, 291 Single Family Homes, and 187 Multi-Family Housing Units.
“Economic development professionals and community leaders from Harrison, Knox, Perry, Pike and Spencer counties all collaborated at high levels to produce a solid proposal for READI 2.0,” said Pfaff. “We are grateful to be awarded this additional state investment of $15 million and we look forward to advancing the key Indiana First Region priorities of housing, business development, innovation and talent attraction.”
Building off this momentum of housing, the Indiana First Region has substantially increased growth in education and workforce development through job creation, investment in entrepreneurship and innovation, and creating pathways in more advanced degrees.
Projects across the region include the Lanesville Business Park, Nursing + Health Careers Expansion / SIM Labs, Ivy Tech Workforce Training Project, Southwest Indiana Megasite, and the Pike County Economic Development Shell Building Indiana First prides itself on its creativity, innovation, and tenacity towards growth and collaboration in Southern Indiana. The region is dedicated to ensuring the regional economic development strategy is put into action and makes the necessary impact to continue diversifying the economy, fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and attracting new businesses.
For more information on the Indiana First Region and to stay up to date on the success of 1.0 projects, please visit: https://indiana1st.com/.
About Indiana First
The Indiana First READI Region is an active working partnership of the local economic development partnerships in Harrison, Knox, Perry, Pike, and Spencer Counties in southwest Indiana. The Region was awarded $15 million from the state’s first iteration of the READI program, intended to accelerate projects that will enhance the area’s quality of life, and increase competitiveness for economic growth.
About READI
Indiana’s nationally recognized Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI), administered by the Indiana Economic Development Corp., allocated $500 million in initial funding for projects which will improve the quality of place, life, and opportunity in communities throughout the state. It also encourages a new level of regional collaborations that bring mutual stakeholders together to determine for themselves the future of their communities. Click here to see all READI state awards by region.
For more information about Knox County Indiana Economic Development, contact Michael Snyder at MEK.