SEI READI Issues Two Requests for Proposals for READI 2.0 Projects

First round of blight & redevelopment and arts & culture projects due June 21.

(Southeast Indiana) - SEI READI, Inc. today 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)

• 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

• Projects of various types including infrastructure, housing, placemaking, childcare, 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 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.

LEDO contact information:

• Dearborn County – One Dearborn, Mike Perleberg – 513-256-1843 – mperleberg@1dearborn.org
• Franklin County – Franklin County Economic Development Commission, John Palmer – 765-338-8201, jpalmerfcedc@gmail.com
• Ohio County – Ohio County Economic Development Corporation, Mike Northcutt – 812-438-3324, mike@cityofrisingsun.com
• Ripley County – Ripley County Economic Development Corporation, Gary Norman – 812-689-4344, gnorman@ripleycountyedc.com
• Switzerland County – Switzerland County Economic Development Corporation, Jon Bond – 812-427-9100, jcbond@switzerlandusa.com
• Union County – Union County Community Foundation, Olivia Chewning – 765-458-7664, olivia@ucspecialprojects.org

More information about SEI READI and regional updates can be found at www.southeastindiana.org. General questions about SEI READI may be directed to Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Mary McCarty, mary.mccarty@sirpc.org, 812-689-5505.