INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Economic Development Corp. has awarded $30 million in a READI grant to the South Central Indiana Talent Region for a proposal put together by representatives from Bartholomew, Jackson and Jennings counties and the town of Edinburgh.
The region was one of 17 vying for a portion of $500 million in Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative grant funding throughout Indiana.
The IEDC planned to award up to $50 million per region. However, regions must attract a minimum 4-to-1 match, including a 1-to-1 match from local public funding.
Officials from the South Central Indiana Talent Region presented their pitch at the Dallara IndyCar Factory in Speedway on Dec. 3. The session included a nine-minute video overview of the region’s plan, as well as remarks from economic development directors from Jennings, Jackson and Bartholomew counties on different facets of the proposal. Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop spoke during the opening and closing segments of the presentation.
The South Central Indiana Talent Region’s proposal includes projects that fall into four categories: innovation and entrepreneurship, education and workforce development, housing and talent attraction and quality of place.
The plan has a total proposed budget of more than $378 million, with $49.5 million coming from READI funds.
The plan proposes to use READI funding to help bankroll or support numerous projects in the greater Columbus area, including a research and development test complex at the former Walesboro airport property, the NexusPark project at the site of the former FairOaks Mall in Columbus, expansion of the Seymour High Schools Owls Manufacturing Program and broadband access in rural Jennings County.
In Bartholomew County, READI funding would help support, among other projects, the construction of the initial phase of a new research and development test complex and proving ground for autonomous, electric and alternative-fuel vehicles.
The complex, the Mobility Test Park and Proving Ground, would be at the former Walesboro airport, where Cummins and Faurecia are currently using the former runways as a test track.
“Combining READI support with pledged public and private match, the initial $31 million phase (of the project) will be achieved,” the plan states. “In 2022, construction of a new replacement track for Cummins will be built by the community. In 2023, construction of the autonomous pad will commence which will become a shared and managed facility open for users to conduct short-term or long-term testing and validation needs.”
In 2024, LHP Engineering Solutions conditionally expects to invest in a new engineering facility to house its growing Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems and functional safety business, with additional space available to welcome new ventures on site, the plan states.
LHP Engineering Solutions has conditionally pledged more than $15 million of its own funds to two of the projects in the plan, though it is currently unclear which two projects the company may help pay for, according to the announcement.
The project at Walesboro has been envisioned and considered by Columbus officials for several years.
“At full build, facilities will allow testing and certification of autonomous, noise/vibration/handling, braking, highway, electric vehicle and other applications,” the plan states.
NexusPark
The funding would also help fund part of the NexusPark project at the former FairOaks Mall site in Columbus.
The city of Columbus has a projected commitment of $33 million in the project, including the construction of an indoor fieldhouse, recreational facilities, Columbus Parks’ administrative offices, community fitness facilities, non-sports activity areas and community gathering spaces.
Columbus Regional Hospital has committed $35 million for health care facilities, including physician offices, diagnostic services, wellness spaces and physical and occupational therapy spaces.
READI funds would be used to support the currently unfunded exterior campus and connector facilities, including community park spaces, People Trails and access to a public transportation hub, according to the announcement.
Other projects
The funding would also help support other projects in Bartholomew County, including the Columbus Riverfront Project and a hotel and conference center in downtown Columbus, among others, the plan states.
The funding would also help fund a parking garage that would support the hotel and conference center and other events and festivals in downtown Columbus and help get construction underway on plans to redevelop the waterfront between the Second and Third Street bridges in downtown Columbus, which could start next year and take an estimated 18 months.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
