Accelerate Rural Indiana celebrates milestone

(GREENSBURG, Ind.) – A celebration was held as Accelerate Rural Indiana (ARI) has officially disbursed 100% of its $20 million READI 1.0 award.

Regional leaders gathered in Rushville to recognize the milestone and to also set the stage for the READI 2.0 initiative. 

During the event, Decatur County Community Foundation executive director Tami Wenning was presented with the inaugural Spirit of Regionalism Award. 

Before ARI established its Regional Development Authority, Wenning and the DCCF board helped manage and distribute READI 1.0 funds. 

READI—Indiana’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative—provides state funding designed to leverage local and private investment and advance transformational quality-of-place,  quality-of-life and economic development projects. 

In Greensburg, READI 1.0 funding supported several projects including Building Bridges Inclusion Park, Liberty Lakes, Pirate Park and improvements to Franklin and Washington streets. 

“We’ve already seen the impact of that investment here in Greensburg, and the collaboration behind these projects has been just as important. READI 1.0  showed what we can accomplish when our communities work together, and we’re excited to carry that  momentum into the next round of projects,” said Greensburg Mayor Joshua Marsh. 

READI 2.0 includes $30 million awarded to the region. There has been $9M allocated to six projects in Decatur County.

In addition to the $30 million READI 2.0 award, ARI received $8.6 million in additional support from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC).

Of that funding, $3.2 million will support Rural Schools Reimagined, an initiative focused on revitalizing seven historic school buildings and sites throughout the ARI region. 

One Decatur County project is the restoration and repurposing of the former St. Mary’s School.