Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: Six projects to receive READI grants, more in pipeline

ICYMI: “The Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) is funded by the federal government’s American Rescue Plan.”

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Democratic Party, the organization that advocates for the future of Indiana and its families, today celebrated the brighter future the American Rescue Plan is STILL creating for Northeast Indiana. Thanks to the state’s READI program – which is fully-funded by the Rescue Plan – Fort Wayne’s airport will see updates to its Gateway West terminal, housing and apartment developments will be built in Wabash and Huntington, and a new manufacturing training lab will be available in Kendalville.These investments will deliver a brighter future for Hoosiers, and it was Indiana Democrats who got it done. 

In contrast, the Indiana Republican Party – including Jim Banks and Todd Young – said “NO” to this brighter future. Indiana GOP Chairman Kyle Hupfer called this project “socialism” – claiming the Republicans’ opposition was a “great campaign to run on”. The Indiana GOP’s opposition to the kitchen-table issues is another reminder they have no plan for Indiana’s future – just abiding by an extremist agenda, like making abortion access against the law. 

Here’s a look at how the American Rescue Plan continues to deliver for Hoosiers in Allen, Huntington, Noble, and Wabash Counties: 

Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: Six projects to receive READI grants, more in pipeline

The Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority has approved its first six READI grants, totaling $17.9 million.

That’s more than 35% of the total $50 million the region was allocated last December in state Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative – or READI – money. […]

That’s a tall challenge for the board, which next meets at 2 p.m. Tuesday. It takes time to disburse $50 million while following strict state and federal rules, according to members of the board’s support staff. […]

The six projects already approved are in four counties: Allen, Huntington, Noble and Wabash. Four of them were included in the Growing with Vision Plan submitted to state officials when northeast Indiana competed with other regions in the state for READI money.

The projects, which have received conditional approval for READI money, are:

• Gateway West, an expansion at Fort Wayne International Airport that will add square footage in the terminal, increase access to larger aircraft and upgrade the mechanical system including air filtration – a $3 million grant toward a $62.7 million project;

• Riverfront Phase II, will extend public space from Promenade Park along the St. Marys River west to Ewing Street and east to Clinton Street in downtown Fort Wayne, including extension of the tree canopy trail and the addition of boat docks, a bouldering mound, walking trails and a hammock grove – a $6 million grant toward a $94.9 million project;

• Village Premier, a mixed-income, mixed-use development in southeast Fort Wayne that would create “a vibrant, walkable neighborhood” – a $6 million grant toward a $59.3 million project;

• Legacy Heights, a 52- unit workforce housing development in Wabash on the former site of Parkview Wabash Hospital – a $2.44 million grant toward a $14.3 million project;

• Industry 4.0/iSmart Factory Lab, a robotics/smart factory lab that will train manufacturing sector workers at the Community Learning Center in Kendallville – a $198,450 grant toward a $2.6 million project;

• Rivergreen Housing, a 48-unit apartment complex renovation project in Huntington by Biggs Development – a $249,000 grant toward a $6.1 million project. […]

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