Indiana Economic Development Corporation

The Freight Street District Initiative was among the recipients of the state’s READI Arts & Culture grants, funded by the Lilly Endowment.

The $350,000 READI grant to Juke Music Town, announced this week by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, will expand an online platform that markets live music and sponsors more live shows in South Bend, Elkhart and Goshen.

As Elkhart develops the area south of downtown, it’s looking for some financial help from the READI Arts and Culture Initiative.

"The headline is how do we go, really, from good to great," said Taryn MacFarlane, vice president of regional initiatives at the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership. "How do we accelerate and support this sector that’s got a strong connectivity with the region, that, really, there’s room for growth?"

The money comes to the state from the Lilly Endowment, as part of Indiana's regional approach to economic development launched under former Gov. Eric Holcomb.

The governor said the number of citizens attending Wednesday's meeting at the Goshen Theater was the most he's seen in conducting the quarterly meetings around the state

The Holcomb administration this week unveiled the details of READI 2.0, the second round of economic development funding for regions around the state.

The South Bend area was one of seven regions to receive the maximum $50 million in grant money last December. And on Monday, the regional development authority announced how it’s distributing $40 million of that money locally.

State officials announced Tuesday the recipients of funding under Indiana's new $500 million grant program that aims to improve quality of life, and…

The South Bend-Elkhart Regional Development Authority was awarded the full $50 million dollars it was seeking in state economic development grants…