KOKOMO — Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers joined local officials and regional leaders Wednesday in Kokomo to celebrate the North Central Region READI Plan getting funding for five quality of place investments that will support current and future residents.
Fueled by the Indiana Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative, or READI, grant program, the region is investing $98.9 million to advance community amenities, infrastructure and workforce development to support talent retention and attraction.
“Across Indiana, communities are making unprecedented investments in their neighborhoods and their people thanks to READI,” said Chambers. “In north central Indiana, the region has come together to advance initiatives focused on quality of life, quality of place and quality of opportunity, and because of their collaboration, the future of the North Central READI region is bright.”
North Central Region on Wednesday announced its first READI funding allocations, designating $9.25 million to support five projects:
Industry 4.0 training lab at Ivy Tech Kokomo - $2 million total project investment; $1 million READI allocation
At Ivy Tech Kokomo, READI funds will be used to help prepare the region’s workforce for the future of advancing manufacturing as the sector continues to modernize operations and integrate smart technologies and processes. This initiative will enable the region to proactively develop an educated workforce pipeline and upskill its current workforce to support Industry 4.0 and fuel the future of manufacturing.
Riverfront development in Peru - $22.523 million total project investment; $2.75 million READI allocation
In Peru, the region is transforming 40 acres of idle real estate along the Wabash River, bringing new vibrancy and quality of place to the area. Revitalization of the riverfront property includes the newly constructed Miami County YMCA and a 174-unit development that will include apartments, duplexes and senior housing. READI funds will be used to enhance the streetscaping at the site along Forrest and Maple streets.
US-31 & SR-28 infrastructure in Tipton County - $67 million total project investment; $3.5 million READI allocation
In Tipton County, the region is investing in infrastructure near the recently-developed US-31 & SR-28 interchange to facilitate further commercial and residential development in the area and along the SR-28 corridor. The city of Tipton, Tipton County and Tipton Municipal Utilities are partnering to extend water and sanitary sewer services with support from READI funds. The project is expected to lead to $60 million in private investment and development.
Broadband development in Cass and Howard counties - Cass County: $4.455 million total project investment; $1 million READI allocation; Howard County: $3.952 million total project investment; $1 million READI allocation
The North Central region will allocate $2 million of READI funds to increase broadband in Cass and Howard counties, working to resolve the digital divide and increase digital accessibility. In Cass County, READI funds will build on the county’s prior investment, adding an additional 237 miles of fiber to the existing 117 mile fiber ring. This expansion will increase broadband infrastructure and fill in the gaps inside the ring, creating an affordable, scalable, reliable fiber network supplying upload and download speeds of 1G.
To the southwest, Howard County will build a fiber backbone with an estimated 300 miles of laterals to better serve rural communities, reaching approximately 250 businesses, 3,000 households and five schools.
Rochester and Fulton County received a $1 million READI nod in late October, said Mayor Ted Denton earlier. The money will be used for a collaborative transportation project on the south end of town for which contracts have not yet been signed and a formal announcement not made.
Apache Drive, which currently ends at Beacon Credit Union, is to be extended north to Indiana 14 and Park Road. Peace Tree Drive, which runs north of Kroger, is to be extended west to tie into that. Sidewalks also are to be built along the streets and on Indiana 14 from Park Road west.
The nationally recognized READI program is allocating $500 million to 17 regions across the state to accelerate shovel-ready projects and programs that are expected to transform Indiana communities, attract talent and improve the quality of life for Hoosiers in the short and long term. The North Central Region, led by the North Central Indiana Regional Planning Council, was awarded $30 million in READI matching funds to advance its strategies to grow its population base, improve quality of place and quality of life, increase and diversity the region’s quality of opportunity, and spur innovation and entrepreneurship to attract and retain talent.
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