Regional Opportunity Initiatives

Thanks to Indiana's Next Level Trails program, Spencer's MYPath Trail System has gotten an upgrade! #uplandsproud #IndianaUplands Last week, the ribbon was officially cut by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources & the Owen County Community Foundation. The $639,483 NLT grant provided 0.88 miles of asphalt on the previously natural surface trail along the White River. These multi-use improvements allow users to connect from the lowlands reforestation project and pollinator garden to a new trailhead on the river’s west fork featuring an 80-foot ADA-accessible bridge over Elliston Creek.

We are incredibly proud of our UpSkill youth apprentices and love it when they get the attention they deserve, especially on the national level! ?? Last week, UpSkill Work & Learn youth apprentice Maddison Simmerman participated in a panel alongside her father at the CareerWise USA National Youth Apprenticeship Summit in Indianapolis. Simmerman discussed her UpSkill experience working as an engineering apprentice for PRD INC in front of 300 people from across the country. How exciting -- and impressive -- for this North Lawrence Career Center senior! PRD President Mark Murphy also attended the conference, posing for a photo with Simmerman and ROI President and CEO Tina Peterson. #Uplandsproud Simmerman was one of the UpSkill youth apprentices we highlighted in May for Youth Apprenticeship Week. Read more about her and her time with PRD here: https://lnkd.in/giw9wqGW

The Owen County Community Foundation needs help reaching a fundraising goal! The foundation is working to raise $30,000 by Oct. 27 to receive a matching grant to build new public restrooms through Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) and AARP Indiana's #CreatINgLivableCommunities program. Funds from this campaign will be used to construct accessible restrooms between the Gosport Town Hall and the town picnic area, within walking distance of the public park and new basketball courts. You can find more details by clicking the link below! https://lnkd.in/gzTXcm3M

The Town of Ellettsville has shared a few photos of park improvements happening at Stewart Park! The new Heritage Center, supported with READI 1.0 funding from the #IndianaUplands region, will be a gathering place and cultural facility for plays, concerts, classes, festivals, cultural development, and artistic enrichment. The center’s interior will include meeting rooms, a kitchen, restrooms, a stage, and utilities (electric, water, and Wi-Fi). The anticipated completion date for the Heritage Center project is December 2024. In addition to the Heritage Center, Elletsville is also enhancing Stewart Park with additional features, including the retaining wall shown below and Heritage Trail surfacing. To see the long-term plans and architectural renderings for Stewart Park, visit the Envision Ellettsville website.

Regional Opportunity Initiatives has been awarded a $9.5 million contract for a new multi-layered #microelectronics (ME) education and workforce initiative in the #IndianaUplands. The project, funded through the Department of Defense (DoD)’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program, supports the National Defense Industrial Strategy’s priorities of enhancing Supply Chain Resilience and Workforce Readiness. Through this initiative, ROI will collaborate with K-12 schools, postsecondary colleges and universities, employer partners, and other institutions to develop and enhance the region’s ME ecosystem and expertise. Click link to learn more!

Our region is on the way UP! Check out this new IEDC video to see highlights from 3 of our region’s 27 READI 1.0 projects: Spencer Texas Pike Place, WestGate@Crane Technology Park, and footage of the Washington Longfellow Park All-Inclusive Playground. For more updates on the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative in the Indiana Uplands, visit: https://lnkd.in/gbj5qxRi To learn more about READI, visit the Indiana Economic Development Corporation website at: https://indianareadi.com/

It's the final week, but you still have time to apply for an ROI Digital Towns Grant! Apps due Sep 13. This program will provide financial support for programs that enhance digital literacy and technology use across the #IndianaUplands. Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000, with up to $75,000 available for projects with a regional focus. Eligible organizations — including libraries, nonprofits, schools, and main street organizations — are encouraged to apply! Have questions? Let us know! We're happy to help.

The start of the academic school year is an exciting time for ROI! We've recently kicked off the 2024-2025 cohorts in our STEM Fellowship, Career Coaching Fellowship, and UpSkill Work & Learn programs. These programs enable schools, educators, and counselors to expose students from an early age through high school to the many career opportunities they have in the #IndianaUplands. We are also thankful for the enthusiasm and generosity of our region's employers for providing their insights, time, and talent to engage the next generation of Uplanders. #UplandsProud

We are grateful for this incredible investment by Lilly Endowment, Inc. in the #IndianaUplands region! #UplandsProud

ROI is proud to add a new member to direct our quality of place team! Julie Halbig began this week as our VP of Economic and Community Development. ROI’s quality of place programs span across initiatives, including housing, transportation, infrastructure, digital inclusion, and placed-based amenities. Working alongside local governments and economic development organizations (LEDOs), as well as with nonprofit, community, and other regional stakeholders, Halbig will focus on community and economic development priorities that elevate the assets of the Indiana Uplands, making it an attractive region to live, work, play, and invest. Read More about Julie: https://lnkd.in/gaEVeYEc