The City of Columbus and Columbus Regional Hospital partnered to acquire a declining mall property in the midtown area of Columbus.  The goal is to transform the property into a health, wellness and recreation facility (Nexus Park). The project includes the development of an indoor sports facility, a regional hub for wellness related services (Columbus Regional Hospital Physical & Wellness Offices), the Cityâ€™s Park admin offices and community space, and an outdoor park/trail space.  
The Parks Office and Community Space will be the only portion of the project funded through READI funds. The space will integrate City Parks admin offices alongside community conference rooms, youth multi-purpose rooms, low-cost fitness areas, child watch area and a teaching kitchen to provide accessible and active resident activities which cross all demographic lines. Construction is expected to start in July 2022 and be completed by September 2023. URL is nexuspark.org.

00012_nexuspark_outside_2

00012_NexusPark_Outside_(2)

00012_nexuspark_teaching-kitchen_1

00012_NexusPark_Teaching Kitchen_(1)

The AirPark Columbus College Campus, home to three public post-secondary institutions: Ivy Tech Community College, Purdue Polytechnic Columbus, and Indiana University Purdue University Columbus, seeks to implement a program designed to address the education and workforce impacts of the pandemic experienced by low-income students. 

The AirPark Campus Student Success and Employment Program will focus on providing support to increase enrollment and completion rates for low-income students and prospective students. Program includes development and construction of the Bridge Student Success and Employment Center, which will serve as a â€œconnectionâ€ hub that will provide low-income populations with access to ï¬nancial and academic resources. Additionally, service access roads will be constructed to provide better campus accessibility. 

The Community Education Coalition (CEC), the non-profit responsible for management of the Columbus Learning Center, will provide funding for the construction, equipment, and technology of The Bridge. Ivy Tech, IUPUC, Purdue Polytechnic and CEC will provide funding for personnel. READI funding will be used towards construction of service access roads, as well as supplement start-up of The Bridge program. The access roads are anticipated to begin the final design process beginning in July 2022, with the completion of construction in November 2023. The Program is geared to launch in July 2022.

The Program will help low-income populations to stay and complete school successfully by providing access to ï¬nancial and academic resources. Additionally, the Program will provide access for students to well-paying internship and job opportunities through employer networking events, workshops, and on-campus interviews.

default-4

default

00019_airpark-columbus-college-campus_campus_3

00019_AirPark Columbus College Campus_campus_(3)

The Columbus Area Chamber Foundation is collaborating with Elevate Ventures, The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, The Mill in Bloomington and other local organizations, to renovate and equip a 9,000-square foot facility into The Propeller Innovation Center. The goal is to provide a space where individuals have access to training, tools and equipment to develop new workforce skills and explore various careers.
The Propeller Innovation Center Program will focus on offering classes, led by certified instructors, to support the development of manufacturing, technology, trade and other introductory skills. The program will also allow self-directed and peer-directed learning. The project also provides access to resources such as 3D printers, woodworking and metalworking equipment, and an electronics lab. The classes and training are expected to begin August 2022 and continue until July 2025.
Local organizations will provide funding for construction, equipment and facility personnel costs. A key partner is LHP Engineering Services. In addition to support services, LHP has pledged $5 million in venture capital to support the startup of ten new companies in the next three years. READI funding will be used toward facility management costs, training coordination staff and purchase of additional equipment. 
The program will allow students from the AirPark Columbus Campus and those in the community who are underemployed, an opportunity to obtain additional skills required by area employers.

00069_propeller-innovation-center_2

00069_Propeller Innovation Center_(2)

00069_propeller-innovation-center_1

00069_Propeller Innovation Center_(1)

000069-columbus-propeller-innovation-center-southcentral_01

00069 Columbus Propeller Innovation Center - (SouthCentral)_01

Seymour Community School Corporation (SCSC) is working to increase capacity and opportunity for students by improving the consistency, quality and intentionality of Career and Technical Education (CTE) instruction in Jackson County. SCSC has made a concerted effort to grow its footprint in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) space. Efforts began in 2015 with the introduction of Owl Manufacturing, a student run enterprise consisting of several manufacturing related cells that gave students real world experience in the areas of sales, marketing, design, lean manufacturing, delivery, billing, and continued customer service. The experience was built around courses approved by the Indiana Department of Education and featured an Owl Advisory Board made up of executives from many corporate partners such as Aisin, Cummins, Excel, Premiere Ag, Rose Acre, Valeo, the Community Foundation of Jackson County, and JCBank. Owl Manufacturing quickly became recognized within the state as an excellent model for innovation in the Career and Technical Education realm, even gaining the notice of Governor Eric Holcomb.
During the 2018-19 school year, the Seymour Community School Corporation opened the Ag Science Research Center on a 110-acre school farm within the Freeman Field Industrial Park in Seymour. The facility has allowed the Seymour Community School Corporation to expand its agricultural programs as well as those in manufacturing, specifically welding, and precision machining.
In May 2019, the House Enrolled Act 1002 set the stage for increasing and improving Career and Technical Education programs around the state and within Jackson County. After meeting with local corporate executives, the Seymour Community School Corporation decided to adapt the Owl Manufacturing program to incorporate a Digital Manufacturing Makerspace. This decision comes at a great expense in equipment replacement and upgrades. Retooling the various industry labs in all areas is requiring significant expense in equipment and remodeling. This program will be available to other close schools that may not have programs close by. There is a tie in with local industry leading to mentoring and eventually jobs. 
The Seymour Community School Corporation began a $54 M construction project by accepting bids in July 2021. This larger construction project included improvements at the 5-6 grade campus with over $3,000,000 in improvements at the Seymour High School Family and Consumer Science Center and the Ag Science Center aimed at better meeting the needs of a growing school corporation. The READI project will consist of the improvements at the Seymour High Schoolâ€™s Ag Science Center with the ARPA funding to be utilized for the Greenhouse at the center. The Greenhouse was removed from the larger project to the high costs of construction. The infusion of $1,200,000 in READI, ARPA funding will enable the SCSC to bid the construction of the greenhouse for the Ag Science Center in 2022-2023 and obtain equipment for the Digital Manufacturing Makerspace and precision Machinery for the Advanced Manufacturing Program. The funding fills the gap caused by the pandemicâ€™s increase in construction cost and will allow for the initial project to be whole. To fully outfit all these programs of study with the necessary equipment to meet industry standards, as well as meet the needs of a growing student population, READI support is needed.
It is anticipated the greenhouse construction at the Ag Science Center would be bid in late 2022, completed in 2023 with precision machinery equipment purchased in the 2022-2023 school year. And the Makerspace and Project Lead the Way equipment is expected to be purchased in 2023 â€“ 2024.

00095_seymour-community-school-corporation-career-tech_outside-greenhouse_1

00095_Seymour Community School Corporation Career & Tech_outside greenhouse_(1)

00095_seymour-community-school-corporation-career-tech_inside-greenhouse_2

00095_Seymour Community School Corporation Career & Tech_inside greenhouse_(2)

Jackson County REMC plans to build high-speed, broadband fiber internet infrastructure throughout its service territory. Currently, there are parts of the county that are only serviced by satellite internet providers. The REMC has an engineering plan for its service territory in Jennings County and has already installed a fiber backbone to allow service to be extended to the Hayden / Reddington / Dudleytown Area. The REMC has secured funding through CoBank and RUS SmartGrid loans. The REMC has also received an Indiana Next Level Connection broadband grant of $988,094. The Jackson County REMC has also committed $9,926,071 for the Jennings County portion of their service area. Jennings County has provided an equipment Tax Abatement in perpetuity for the REMC as it constructs the needed broadband infrastructure. The REMC offers Lifeline and participates in the Affordable Connectivity Plan in order to provide low-cost options to residents. The COVID-19 pandemic made high-speed and reliable internet necessary for us to stay connected to work, school, and family. By making a high-speed, broadband fiber internet service available in the Jackson County REMCâ€™s service territory in Townships of Geneva, Spencer, and Marion, in Jennings County, it would ensure that these smaller, rural communities will not be at a disadvantage to other parts of the state that have high-speed, broadband fiber internet service currently readily available. Website: https://www.jacksonremc.com/fiber/.

The North Vernon housing subdivision project the development of a single-family home subdivision on the west side of North Vernon. In 2018, the City commissioned a housing market study to analyze housing needs. The conclusion was that the North Vernon market had 325 households every year with the potential to buy or rent properties. Of these potential households, the study identified that the market could support the construction of 100+ market-rate, single-family detached homes every year. The city has not seen any recent investment in single-family home construction. The City has become the developer and has purchased the property for the subdivision. The subdivision name will be determined at a later date. The READI ARPA funds will be utilized for the public infrastructure, water, sewer, and storm water, which reduces the barrier of entry for the local and regional home builders for the development of a residential subdivision which will support 100+ lot single-family housing units. It is expected private builders will build an estimated 100+ homes at an average cost of $225,000 to $300,000. The city as the developer will allow local builders access to all lots. Preliminary engineering for the site infrastructure has been completed. The city will provide up to $5.2 M in TIF dollars plus local ARPA funds as match towards the READI ARPA funding of $3.1 M to provide the gap funding for the public infrastructure. The construction timeline is January 2023 through January 2024.

00105_north-vernon-subdivision-housing-development_escevate_1

00105_North Vernon Subdivision-Housing Development_Escevate_(1)

00105_north-vernon-subdivision-housing-development_escevate_2

00105_North Vernon Subdivision-Housing Development_Escevate_(2)

The City of Columbus and Redevelopment Commission have worked with multiple divisions within the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to review plans to redevelop the riverfront, which make it a priority to protect our environment, ensure safety, be fiscally responsible and continue Columbusâ€™ history and legacy of architectural quality and innovation through all design aspects.
The goal of the Columbus Riverfront Project is to make the area between the 2nd and 3rd Street bridges a safe destination, creating an accessible place for all. The project includes among other things the removal of a failing low-head dam, a multi-use trail to ensure accessible pedestrian routes, adding lighting for safety and shoreline stabilization.  The Columbus Redevelopment Commission, Columbus Parks Foundation, and Duke Energy partnership will provide financing. READI funding will provide support for shoreline stabilization and other in-river improvements needed. 
Construction will start in March 2023 and take about 18 months. Providing community amenities has proven to be a major incentive in retaining jobs and attracting new jobs for the future plus will support local businesses and the local tourism industry. https://www.columbusriverfront.org/

The Edinburgh Main Street Extension project includes an extension of Main Street of approximately 2,698 +/- feet from Industrial Drive to CR 900 N, extension of Tobias Drive of approximately 760 +/- feet from Charlotte Drive to the Main Street extension and the construction of a fire station to activate the surrounding industrial land for development. The READI / ARPA funds are to be utilized for the construction of the Main Street and Tobias Drive public infrastructure extensions. The construction will consist of two (2) twelve (12) foot travel lanes with two (2) feet stone shoulders. Extensions of Main Street and Tobias Drive will provide connectivity and provide access to available land within this industrial corridor. The extension will also allow enhanced and quicker access for emergency responses to the industrial-zoned land and to downtown Edinburghâ€™s businesses and residents. The land for the fire station was acquired in 2021 and the construction of the approximately 9700 square feet fire station is underway. Upon project approval the Town of Edinburgh is ready to begin preparing bid documents to procure the construction of the roadways. The project design is complete. the approximate timeline is to bid the project in February 2023 with completion by November 30, 2023. The Town of Edinburgh has committed the additional funding needed to fund and complete the project in collaboration with the SCITR READI Committee.

00174_edinburgh-main-street-extension_building_2

00174_Edinburgh Main Street Extension_building_(2)

00174_edinburgh-main-street-extension_ribbon-cutting_1

00174_Edinburgh Main Street Extension_ribbon cutting_(1)

The Jennings County High School Career and Technical Education Project (JCHS-CTE) aims to provide career and technical education pathway opportunities for students, improving the consistency, quality and availability of CTE instruction in Jennings County.
The project will add pathways in the areas of Health Sciences (Certified Nursing Assistant and Certified Medical Assistant), Advanced Manufacturing, Culinary Sciences and expansion of the entrepreneurship, welding and agricultural programs. READI funding will be used to support the Health Sciences and Advanced Manufacturing pathways, and will cover equipment and supplies costs, as well as cost to renovate and upgrade the high school to accommodate the equipment. A school bond will fund the Culinary Sciences pathways and expansion of the entrepreneurship, welding and agricultural programs. Procurement and construction are expected to begin in Q2-2023 and be completed by Q3-2024. 
Once implemented, the project will provide local opportunities in areas of study with the necessary equipment to meet industry standards and the studentâ€™s needs. JCSC-CTE expects to assist 75 students in both health sciences and advanced manufacturing training per year. With the programs held locally, the project will be transformational. Currently 70% of the high school students participate in the available training programs. The project will provide access to additional training opportunities to an estimated 1,182 students.

00246_jennings-county-high-school_nursing_5

00246_Jennings County High School_nursing_(5)

00246_jennings-county-high-school_nursing_6

00246_Jennings County High School_nursing_(6)

Purchased by North Vernon in 2015, the 160-acre former stone quarry is the cityâ€™s potable water supply reservoir. The cityâ€™s long envisioned activating this under-utilized land as a public park. The READI / SLFRF funded project will create additional outdoor recreation facilities for the community and region. The first phase to be assisted with READI funding will consist of site clean-up, construction of a new â€œparkâ€ entrance with vehicular circulation, creation and installation of new playground amenities, development of walking and hiking trails and the construction associated with the development of a 20-unit campsite (or Glampsite) with full hook-ups and a bathhouse. The project timeline will include design and construction documents developed upon approval of the project by the IEDC, estimated January-June 2023. It is anticipated the public bidding process will take place in Q3, 2023. Site clean-up and construction is estimated to begin in Q4, 2023, with completion expected in Q4, 2024. The expectation is 1 year for the the construction. Quarry Adventure Park will be city owned and maintained with the city providing onsite management through their Recreation Department. The city is partnering with the North Vernon Redevelopment Commission to assist with the public funding and the SIHCDC / SCITR for the READI funding. The outcome will be the creation of a public park which will provide many amenities to residents and all camping or glamping enthusiasts.

The lake located within Country Squire Lakes (CSL), a 4,000-lot community in Jennings County, currently serves as the water source for the Jennings Northwest Regional Water Utility, which provides water for approximately 1,200 residents within and surrounding CSL. Sediment is reducing the capacity of stored water within the lake, limiting the water utilityâ€™s ability to handle drought conditions. The goal of the Country Squire Lake project is to remove an estimated 42,413 cubic yards of dredged material providing increased water quality for CSL and other area residents receiving water through the Jennings Northwest Regional Water Utility.

In an effort to mitigate sedimentation, a forebay will be designed upstream of the lake. The forebay will allow for regular clean out and maintenance, reducing the amount of sediment reaching the lake. The project will also include improvements to public facilities and blighted structures elimination. READI funds will cover the sediment mitigation costs. Private funds will fund the rest of the project. It is anticipated the dredging project will be initiated in April 2023 with completion by December 2024.

00327_country-squire-lake-project-4

00327_Country Squire Lake Project (4)

00327_country-squire-lake-project-2

00327_Country Squire Lake Project (2)

Schneck Medical Center is a county-owned hospital that does not receive any funding or tax support from the county. They serve patients who are approximately 60% on Medicare and/or Medicaid combined in the rural counties of Jackson, Jennings, Scott and Washington. They provide care to patients without insurance or other payer coverage and offer financial assistance to those without the ability to pay. The project will renovate an existing 21â€bed inpatient unit, on the 3rd floor of the 1971 building. The renovations will increase the size of 2 rooms to accommodate patients of size and address ADA accessibility; add video monitors to 17 rooms, update 5 rooms for clinical patient monitoring; upgrade heat and air conditioning to digital controls for patient comfort and add dialysis water connection boxes to 4 rooms. All rooms get updated finishes; and the central core will be remodeled to adjust the adjacencies of rooms to improve efficiency. The design is to take place through Q2-2023, bid in Q3-2023, construction phase from Q4-2023 through Q3-2024. The Center will partner with SIHCDC dba SCITR to assist with READI funding. The outcome will provide increased efficiency in patient care and comfort, improve the efficiencies of the nursing staff, and retain nurses in this area of the hospital. The READI / ARPA funding will be utilized for the renovation / remodeling of the third floor of the hospital. The balance of the project will be funded through the hospitalâ€™s revenue.

00330_schneck-medical-center_1

00330_Schneck Medical Center_(1)

The Jackson County Learning Center Project will provide technical programming through Vincennes University to meet the needs of incumbent workers and local employers. The READI funding will be used by the Jackson County Education Coalition to purchase the equipment needed to meet the needs of key industries within the region. The local funding will be utilized for instructor salaries and benefits, electrical improvements to the learning center, laptops and software, book sets for equipment and program delivery administrative costs. The training initially will include Industrial Maintenance Training focusing on basic and intermediate electrical components and a basic and intermediate mechanical focus. Courses are being customized based on the needs of local employers based in a recent survey of local key industries. VU will develop and deliver custom-designed education and training to meet the needs of the regionâ€™s employers. The equipment procurement is expected to begin in Q2, 2023, with installation in Q3, 2023 and trainings to begin in Q4, 2023.
Partners include the Jackson County Education Coalition, Vincennes University, Seymour Redevelopment Commission, SIHCDC/SCITR for READI funding and the following industries Cummins Inc.-Seymour Engine Plant, Valeo, and Aisin USA, with funding committed to the trainings. The training program will provide training for approximately 80 incumbent workers per year increasing their options of employment advancement within the region.

00380_jackson-county-learning-center-expansion-1

00380_Jackson county Learning Center Expansion (1)

00380_jackson-county-learning-center-expansion-6

00380_Jackson county Learning Center Expansion (6)

The Crothersville Water System improvements project meets the original intent of expanding infrastructure in support of housing and jobs in south Jackson County.  The overall project includes improvements to the drinking water system which will involve several operations to achieve the goal of capacity restoration and maximization, as well as distribution system improvements necessary to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the community. The all-encompassing project will involve improvements to the Treatment Plant and Distribution System, improvements to the Well Field and the construction of a new Water Tower and associated costs. READI funds will be bid separately from the larger project and will move forward quickly to ensure the funds are obligated before December 2024. The component of the project utilizing the READI funds will address the concerns in the Industrial Park located in the southern portion of the town. The preliminary engineering report notes, â€œIndustries often experience low pressure and inadequate fire protection volume resulting in the added expense of owning, maintaining and operating individual fire suppression tanks and systems. Inadequate volume and flow to the Industrial Park may limit new development, as well as detour existing industries from expanding.â€ The Town Council of Crothersville has committed to fund the balance of the project by bonds. Approximate timeline of the project is 12/17/24-10/30/26.

The South Central Indiana Region is home to approximately 160,000 residents and multinational corporation Cummins Inc., the region’s largest employer. The region received $30 million in total READI 1.0 funds.

Region Overview:

South Central

List of Counties:

Projects in South Central