Regional Leadership: Validated By READI
Ever since the inception of READI in 2021, Indiana’s growth strategy was built on a simple premise: regions know their unique strengths best. Building on the program’s success, in 2025, Indiana confirmed that the 15 READI regions are the state’s economic regions, providing clarity, continuity, and confidence to local leaders. Independent analysis from Indiana University’s Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC) validated this approach, confirming that Indiana’s regions are economically distinct, with different industry drivers, workforce needs, and growth paths. One framework, many paths to grow at scale. To ensure alignment, Secretary Adams visited and listened to all 15 regions, hearing directly from employers, local officials, and development leaders. The key takeaway: to ensure goals were positioned for long-term economic success. Indiana now has a statewide structure built for regions to deliver on their goals.
As Heard from the Commerce Statewide Listening Tour: As the Secretary of Commerce traveled the state to meet with regional leaders, one message came through clearly and consistently: “Don’t break us up.” READI created alignment, trust, and momentum across communities. Regions asked for continuity because working together is what’s driving results.
Indiana’s Economic Regions 1 Northwest 2 South Bend – Elkhart 3 Northeast 4 Greater Lafayette 1 2
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5 North Central 6 Wabash River 7 Central Indiana 8 Accelerate Rural Indiana 9 East Central 10 Indiana Uplands 11 South Central 12 Southeast 13 Indiana First 14 Southwest 15 Our Southern Indiana
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Office of Commerce 2025
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