Editorial: Regional Projects Show Benefits of State Grant Money

Indiana is adding $500 million to its coffers and the Lilly Endowment is throwing in $250 million for community and economic development programs designed by communities themselves, the Columbus Republic reports.

The state is investing the money in the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative, or READI, program, which has already produced big results locally with more to come from the first round of grant funding.

Meanwhile, local officials have submitted proposals with more ambitious plans for this year's READI 2.0 program.

Among the biggest-dollar projects, leaders in our region are asking for a grant to help fund development of a potential vehicle innovation center at the former Walesboro airport.

Because so many people in our region are employed in transportation-related industry, it's hard to think of a project with more potential immediate and long-term economic impact.

In Columbus, you can see evidence of READI's first-round grant impact in NexusPark on the site of the former FairOaks Mall.

The new fieldhouse, community gathering space, and home of Columbus Regional Health professional offices got a major boost from a $6 million READI grant awarded in December 2021.

That project was part of $30 million in first-round READI grants to our region, which includes Bartholomew, Jackson, and Jennings counties,

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