(Southeastern IN) – SEI READI, Inc. has announced the opening of two requests for proposals (RFPs) for economic and community development projects to be considered for investment by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s READI 2.0 program.
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and the IEDC announced in April a $10 million allocation from READI 2.0 for projects in the Southeast Indiana region. These funds are to be invested into projects enhancing quality of life, quality of place, and quality of opportunity in Dearborn, Franklin, Ripley, Ohio, Switzerland, and Union counties.
Additionally, Gov. Holcomb announced a $250 million statewide match to READ 2.0 from Lilly Endowment Inc. (LEI) for projects funding blight remediation, redevelopment, public arts, and cultural initiatives. Southeast Indiana projects meeting LEI’s goals will be eligible for consideration of LEI funding.
SEI READI has published two separate RFPs and associated online application forms for LEI and READI 2.0:
● Lilly Endowment Inc. (Blight & Redevelopment and Arts & Culture projects)
o Southeast Indiana projects meeting stated goals and eligibility of the LEI match (see https://indianareadi.com/resources) to READI 2.0 may submit project proposals to SEI READI quarterly at www.southeastindiana.org/rfp. The first round of LEI proposals will be due Friday, June 21, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. SEI READI may issue subsequent RFPs for LEI-aligned projects subject to funding availability.
● READI 2.0
o Projects of various types including infrastructure, housing, placemaking, child care, blight remediation, redevelopment, arts, culture, and other categories may submit READI 2.0 funding proposals at www.southeastindiana.org/rfp. Proposals for these projects will remain open through July 31, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
READI 2.0 funding in Southeast Indiana is expected to be very competitive. Prior to preparing responses to the RFP, applicants are encouraged to review the IEDC’s READI 2.0 and LEI policies at see https://indianareadi.com/resources. Project stakeholders are also encouraged to discuss
READI 2.0 project proposals with the local economic development office (LEDO) in the project’s respective county prior to application submission. Find LEDO contact information below.
Following the RFP closure, the SEI READI Board of Directors will evaluate projects in collaboration with IEDC before announcing projects which will receive READI 2.0 and LEI investments.
