Note to the Press: Please include the following statements from local legislators on the recent announcement of $45 million from the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative, or READI 2.0, awarded to Northwest Indiana. The Indiana General Assembly supported the funding in the state's two-year budget during the 2023 legislative session. Indiana's $500 million total investment in this round of funding is expected to yield nearly $11 billion in overall investments from public and private sources to increase the vibrancy and prosperity of Hoosier communities.
STATEHOUSE (April 15, 2024) – "The READI program is a great way for Northwest Indiana to come together and make generational improvements that will help us grow our population and economy. I'm excited to see more projects come to our local communities and residents and businesses to benefit for years to come," said State Rep. Michael Aylesworth (R-Hebron).
"Through years of fiscal responsibility, our state is able to step up to make tremendous investment in local communities and their vision for growth. Our prime location, natural resources and diverse economy make our region an incredible place to call home, and it's critical that we continue to capitalize on these strengths if we want to compete for people and business. I can't wait to see the results of this investment and the outside investments that will come pouring in because of it," said State Rep. Julie Olthoff (R-Crown Point).
"This funding is a great investment in Northwest Indiana that will lead to continued growth in our communities. Whether you are a small business owner, a large corporation or everyday Hoosier, the projects resulting from the READI program will benefit everyone for many years to come," said State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie).
"The READI 2.0 grant will be a game changer for so many great projects in areas like energy, sustainability and innovation happening all around Northwest Indiana. This is a tremendous step forward for economic growth and quality of life in our communities," said State Rep. Hal Slager (R-Schererville).
"Whether it's boosting education and training opportunities or increasing child care and housing options, it's about building for the future as we attract more families, workers and job creators. I'm encouraged to see our region think outside the box to find ways to meet our growing needs and I look forward to seeing continued results," said State Rep. Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso).
Click here for the full announcement. To learn more about the READI 2.0 program, visit indianareadi.com.
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State Rep. Michael Aylesworth (R-Hebron) represents House District 11,
which includes portions of Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Julie Olthoff (R-Crown Point) represents House District 19,
which includes portions of Lake and Porter counties.
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State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) represents House District 20,
which includes portions of LaPorte and Starke counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Hal Slager (R-Schererville) represents House District 15,
which includes a portion of Lake County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso) represents House District 4,
which includes a portion of Porter County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
