READI

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

The South Bend Redevelopment Commission on Thursday asked city staff to come back in July with a recommendation on which proposal to select to renovate downtown's long-vacant State Theater.

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

Officials with the city of Mishawaka, Visit South Bend/Mishawaka an Card & Associates were present Thursday to celebrate the start of the first phase of the project.

Gov. Eric Holcomb wants to spend more than $5 billion in new and increased spending in Indiana’s next budget on everything from education to public health and economic development initiatives.

The primary objective of the newest version of Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative is to attract even more tourism and talent than previous initiatives.

Gov. Eric Holcomb said the new state revenue forecast is “rosier” than he anticipated. But he said it still calls for a “discerning” approach to writing a new state budget.

Gov. Eric Holcomb’s major economic development initiative – the READI grant program – looks set for another major influx of funding.