East Central Indiana 

East Central Indiana READI Plan and Program Management R2.0

HWC led East Central Indiana in an effort to update their regional development plan. The 2024 East Central Indiana Regional Development Plan was formed through robust stakeholder engagement from across the eight-county region, which includes Blackford, Delaware, Fayette, Grant, Henry, Jay, Randolph, and Wayne counties. The final plan establishes a shared vision for a welcoming, authentic region where existing and future residents thrive. The plan also outlines a four-part regional investment strategy focused on the following key elements:

• Quality of Life
• Housing & Infrastructure
• Childcare & Support for Families
• Education & Opportunity

This regional development plan serves as a guide for the region, but also represents a key component in East Central Indiana’s compelling and competitive application for Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) funding from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). In the first round of READI, East Central Indiana secured $15 million in state funding. In the second round with HWC support, the region received $35 million to fund transformative childcare, housing, quality of place, and economic development projects.