Record photo of the Republic Aerial photo of the assets of the former Walesboro airport taken in 2012, when discussions about its progression to a serious advertising park. Woodside Industrial Park, whose first tenant opened in 1981, is visual in the foreground.

A group made up of Jackson, Bartholomew and Jennings counties, as well as the City of Edinburgh, is receiving a $30 million grant from a state initiative for economic development.

“I think the long term is pretty promising for our area,” Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop said in reaction to the news.

The Regional Economic Development and Acceleration Initiative (READI) grant recommendations were announced Tuesday at a joint board meeting of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and the Indiana Economic Development Foundation. The funding amounts were announced through Jason Dudich of the READI Review Committee and approved through the Board of Directors.

The session, at Butler University, was chaired by Gov. Eric Holcomb, who said, “Indiana is definitely in a position to do more.

Indiana Commerce Secretary Brad Chambers, who was also in attendance, thanked the regions they implemented and said they “worked tirelessly, strategically imagining the long term of their counties. “

“I’ve heard, for months, how proud he is of the collaboration that happened,” he said.

The competitive READI grant program has encouraged Indiana communities to participate in proposals for long-term expansion and improvement in their area, that is, when it comes to attracting and retaining talent. Seventeen regions implemented in the program. Under the programme, these regions were to obtain a minimum adjustment of 4:1, adding a 1:1 adjustment of local public funds.

South Central Indiana Talent Region’s proposal included projects that fall into 4 categories: innovation and entrepreneurship, education and development, housing and skills attraction, and venue quality.

The plan had an overall proposal of more than $378 million, of which $49. 5 million was obtained from READI funds.

Lienhoop said he was excited, even though the subsidy is less than requested.

“Now we can’t wait to see what’s next,” he said. Columbus’ mayor hopes the state will offer recommendations on how to allocate the funds.

Greater Columbus Economic Development Corp. President Jason Hester said officials are grateful for the award, though they will have to figure out how to make cuts and where to allocate resources when projects are proposed.

“We will do it as a region,” Hester said, adding that they will continue to engage partners who have cared about the process.

Eric Frey, executive director of the Southern Indiana Housing and Community Development Corporation, said $30 million, in terms of coherence with the capita, is a “big win for the region. “According to the region’s website, south-central Indiana “is home to about 160,000 residents. “

“I’m grateful, excited,” Frey. Array said. . . $30 million, I think, will have a significant effect on the three counties. “

He hopes that even with the decreasing amount of the grant, the region will continue to see really significant public and personal investment, with partners racing to make the projects a reality.

According to Frey, there will be an organizing assembly on Jan. 11 to review next steps. Officials expect to know more about the main administrative points of the grant at that time.

The South Central Region plan proposes to use READI’s investment to help fund or many allocations in the Columbus metropolitan area, adding a studies and progress verification complex on the former Walesboro airport property, the NexusPark assignment on the site of the former FairOaks mall in Columbus, Expand Seymour High School’s owl manufacturing program and broadband access in rural Jennings County.

In Bartholomew County, READI’s investment would support, among other projects, the initial phase structure of a new progression study and verification complex and a verification floor for autonomous, electric and fuel vehicles of choice.

The complex, Mobility Test Park and Proving Ground, would be at the former Walesboro Airport, where Cummins and Faurecia use the old runways as a control runway.

“In 2022, the structure of a new replacement track for Cummins will be built through the community,” the plan says. “In 2023, the structure of the independent platform will begin, which will be a shared and controlled facility open to users to carry out short- or long-term testing and validation wishes. “

In 2024, LHP Engineering Solutions plans to invest in a new engineering facility to locate its complex motive force assistance systems and develop functional protection operations, with more area to accommodate new businesses on site, the plan says.

LHP Engineering Solutions has conditionally pledged more than $15 million from its own budget for two of the plans’ projects, though it’s unclear lately which projects the company can fund, according to the announcement.

Walesboro’s assignment has been and through Columbus officials for several years.

“Upon completion of construction, the amenities will certify and certify autonomous, noise/vibration/handling, braking, highway, electric vehicle and other applications,” the plan says.

The investment would also fund the NexusPark allocation component at the former FairOaks Mall site in Columbus.

The City of Columbus has a projected $33 million commitment to the project, adding the structure of an indoor sports complex, recreational facilities, Columbus Parks administrative offices, networked fitness facilities, spaces for non-sports activities, and net collection spaces.

Columbus Regional Hospital has committed $35 million to fitness facilities, doctors’ offices, diagnostic services, wellness spaces, and physical therapy and occupational treatment spaces.

READI’s budget would be used for the outdoor campus and hook-on facilities that have not received funding recently, adding network park spaces, people trails and access to a transit center, according to the plan.

The investment is also expected to help other allocations in Bartholomew County, adding the Columbus Riverfront assignment and a hotel and convention center in downtown Columbus, among others, according to the plan.

The investment would also help fund a parking lot that would be the convention and hotel center and other occasions and festivals in downtown Columbus and help kick-start the structure of riverside remodeling plans between the Second and Third Street bridges in downtown Columbus, which may begin next year. year and will last about 18 months.

While the first READI grants were announced on Tuesday, the program may not be over yet. Holcomb announced last week that it plans to apply for a circular investment for READI in 2023, as the 17 regions implemented more than triple the program’s budget of $500 million.

In addition, Indiana Economic Development Corp. had projected that READI would get at least $2 billion in local public, personal, and philanthropic matching funds.

However, for Chambers, match investments in all regions that implemented in total more than $15 billion.

Chambers and Holcomb at Tuesday’s assembly that a circular READI moment is possible.

“We have again the monetary means for the scenario,” the governor said.

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