Lilly Endowment, State Fund Indiana’s Regional Economic Development Efforts

The Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment announced three grants totaling $42 million to boost regional development efforts in 11 counties located in Southwest-Central Indiana with a focus on research and development, workforce and education, and efforts to enhance quality of life. The recently formed Regional Opportunity Initiatives will receive $25.9 million to implement an education and workforce plan as well as a regional opportunity fund for quality-of-place investments. The Lilly Endowment awarded $16 million to the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership Foundation to establish an Applied Research Institute near the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division. To address societal challenges faced by rural communities, Indiana University Foundation will receive $126,000. In December, Gov. Mike Pence and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors approved up to $126 million state matching funds to support the implementation of regional development plans in North Central, Northeast and Southwest Indiana through the Indiana Regional Cities Initiative. Each of the eligible regions will receive up to $42 million in matching funds to advance talent attraction through quality of place initiatives.