READI in Action
Lilly Endowment Impact • $250M | Total Lilly Endowment commitment supporting Indiana’s READI 2.0 initiative, with a major focus on blight remediation, the arts, and quality-of-place redevelopment statewide. • 17 Projects | Revitalization and redevelopment projects approved in the first wave by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation board. • $131M | Lilly Endowment funding allocated to these initial 17 projects to transform vacant and blighted properties into housing, community spaces, and commercial assets. • 12 Regions | Indiana regions benefiting from first-round blight remediation investments. • $1.6B+ | Total projected investment unlocked when combining Lilly Endowment funding with local and private match. • More to Come | These first 17 projects represent the first phase of awards. The IEDC and the Indiana Arts Commission have been coordinating with regions to support strategic planning that will lead to arts and culture project proposals next year.
From Blight to Momentum | Northeast Indiana Region
From Legacy Industry to a Riverfront Destination | Our Southern Indiana Region In Southern Indiana, the former Jeffboat shipyard will be given a new life—transforming the 80-acre industrial property in Jeffersonville into a $1 billion mixed-use district, creating a major economic and tourist hub along the Ohio River. “The Jeffboat redevelopment transforms a storied industrial riverfront into a place where people can live, work, and gather—and that’s the kind of catalytic growth READI dollars are designed to unlock. With state partnership through the IEDC, regional collaboration, and private investment all aligned, this project proves that even the most complex sites can become lasting community assets when the right team and vision come together.” — Dana Huber, Regional Development Authority Chair
For years, Fort Wayne and communities like it faced widespread blight that local resources alone could not address at scale. Through READI and the Lilly Endowment, cities gained the capital and flexibility to move beyond piecemeal fixes and pursue comprehensive neighborhood revitalization. The result is visible progress: restored properties, stabilized neighborhoods, and new momentum for long-term growth. “Thanks to the support of Lilly Endowment and the READI program, we are able to take on blight at a scale we simply could not have done alone. These investments are helping us restore long-neglected properties, stabilize neighborhoods, and create new
opportunities for growth across our city.” — Mayor Tom Henry, City of Fort Wayne
This is what region-led growth looks like when plans turn into places—and commitment turns into confidence.
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Office of Commerce 2025
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