STATEHOUSE (Dec. 15, 2021) – Communities across all 17 regions in Indiana will receive $500 million as part of a new, innovative state grant aimed at increasing quality of life and attracting top talent, according to State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie).
On Tuesday, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced $50 million will go to counties in the Northwest, including Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Starke, Pulaski, Jasper and Newton. The communities, led by the Northwest Indiana Forum, submitted a regional development plan as part of a competitive grant process through the Indiana Regional Economic Acceleration and Development, or READI, initiative.
During the 2021 legislative session, Pressel supported making a record investment in READI in order to encourage communities to partner and create a plan for the future.
"The General Assembly invested $500 million into this innovative initiative and I'm excited the Northwest region will receive a significant amount of funding to invest in much-needed community projects," Pressel said. "We continue to work on ways to improve our infrastructure and promote economic development, which is helping spur our region's growth."
Regional development plans across the state included housing, trails, broadband, childcare and wellness initiatives, workforce development programs, and telling Indiana’s story to the world. Pressel said the plans enumerated a nearly 10:1 capitalization leverage ratio from private and public sources as compared to the state investment.
Click here for a full list of READI award recipients and visit iedc.in.gov to learn more about the READI initiative.
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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.
