Regions applying for funding from the state’s READI program have another month to put their plans together. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation announced Monday that the deadline for proposals is now September 30.
The READI program lets regions of counties, cities, and towns apply for up to $50 million for quality of place and talent attraction. The program had called for a very quick timeline. It was announced in early May and gave communities until July 1 to group themselves into regions. Despite the extended deadline for the regional development plans, the first round of funding recipients is still expected to be announced in December.
As it stands, Indiana’s communities have grouped themselves into 18 regions. Marshall County is applying as part of the South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership, while Starke and Pulaski counties are members of the seven-county Northwest Indiana Forum. But the Indiana Economic Development Corporation says, “Regions may be further refined or consolidated in the coming weeks.”
As for what READI could mean for the local area, Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer says he’d like to see funding to connect the Panhandle Pathway with the Erie Trail. “Instead of just going to the state park, for this project, I threw the whole stretch so that it is regional, connects two counties, and creates greater leverage for Starke County to move northwestward from North Judson with their trail,” Origer told the county commissioners last month.
Other ideas include a regional ag strategy, workforce training, work release programs, and a regional workforce housing plan. Starke County also has its own regional development plan created as part of Constellation of Starke’s 2019 Stellar Community application.
