SHELBYVILLE, Ind. – Indiana Governor Mike Braun is advancing another quality of place milestone made possible through the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI). The Accelerate Rural Indiana (ARI) region celebrated the opening of The Mary Jane Reed & Robert W. Reed CommunityLink in Shelbyville, the region’s first READI 2.0 investment.
“Today is an exciting celebration for Shelby County and the ARI region as we mark the completion of Healthy Shelby County’s new nonprofit center, which will make community services and programming more accessible to residents and families,” said Gov. Braun. “This development shows how Indiana’s regions are accelerating in-demand projects through READI to support residents, improve their communities and invest in long-term economic and community growth.”
The CommunityLink is an $8.5 million, 31,000-square-foot nonprofit center designed to strengthen collaboration among local organizations and make community resources more accessible to individuals and families throughout Shelby County. The development, supported by $1 million in READI 2.0 funding, is located on a three-acre campus at 2311 S. Miller Street in Shelbyville and will house multiple non-profit and community-service organizations together in one location, helping supporters and those in need of services navigate Shelby County’s 200-plus non-profits.
Led by Healthy Shelby County, the CommunityLink includes shared and community-focused resources, including a food pantry and distribution center, training kitchen, computer lab, meeting and training spaces, and reception and engagement areas. The new facility also creates opportunities for Healthy Shelby County to expand healthy-living programs and community initiatives that encourage physical activity, nutrition, connection and overall wellbeing.
“This has always been about more than a building,” said Ashley Martin, executive director of Healthy Shelby County. “The CommunityLink gives organizations an opportunity to connect in ways that simply aren’t possible when everyone is working separately. We want people to walk through these doors and know that they are in a place where they can find help, build connections and feel supported.”
Indiana’s READI program is a $1.25 billion investment in regional-led strategies designed to strengthen communities, retain and attract top talent, and increase opportunities for Hoosiers for years to come.
“READI is driving community investments like The CommunityLink like never before, giving Indiana communities and regions the tools needed to create a better future,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Chuck Goodrich. “Thanks to this new nonprofit center in Shelbyville, current and future residents will be better able to navigate the many resources available to them, creating more opportunities for Hoosiers to prosper.”
Shelby County is part of the Accelerate Rural Indiana (ARI) region – led by the ARI Regional Development Authority – that was awarded $50 million in READI 1.0 and 2.0 matching funds to grow the region’s quality of place, quality of life and quality of opportunity across Decatur, Rush and Shelby counties as well as the city of Batesville. The region’s projects and programs are designed to reimagine the rural region’s ability to attract and retain talent by expanding and improving housing options, making place-based asset improvements, increasing regional education opportunities, upgrading and expanding infrastructure, and telling the region’s story.
Learn more at IndianaREADI.com.
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