READI 2.0 Grant of $1.75 Million Paves Way for Much-Needed New Housing, Infrastructure Improvements in Upland

Plans to enhance Grant County’s economic development while addressing its significant housing shortage received another boost through a $1.75 million grant from the recent expansion of the Indiana Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI 2.0). The grant has been pre-committed to Taylor University and 1846 Enterprises as part of the $100 million Main Street Mile Initiative that is revitalizing the Town of Upland.

On Friday, Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg visited Upland to celebrate the grant announcement and take part in a ceremonial groundbreaking. The grant will fund the extension of Ivanhoe's Drive and related utilities in the Kershner Commons neighborhood, adding 22 single-family homesites and making way for future development on adjacent land.

The building of additional housing is a major lynchpin of the region’s economic development strategy. Entrepreneurs and other business owners wishing to move to or expand in Grant County currently run up against a shortage of housing for their prospective workforce. A recent study found that the Grant County housing market could absorb some 2,000 new units over the next five years.

Andrea Masvero, Executive Director for 1846 Enterprises, Inc., said that Taylor University is growing, but that new employees and others struggle to find housing nearby. “We often hear from people who are looking for housing in Upland, but the options are very limited. Adding these homes opens up new opportunities to invite people to participate in our community, and it brings in the population we need to support local businesses.”

According to Masvero, work is already underway to secure necessary approvals and prepare construction documents for the neighborhood expansion. She expects excavation to begin in spring, with homesites available for reservation after the first of the year.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb established the now $1.25 billion READI program in 2021, and it has since been nationally recognized for its success. READI 2.0, which was part of the governor’s 2023 Next Level Agenda and approved by the Indiana General Assembly, allocates another $500 million to regions across the state to accelerate shovel-ready projects and programs that are expected to transform Indiana communities, attract talent and improve quality of life for Hoosiers in the short and long term.

Upland is part of the READI East Central Indiana region – led by the East Central Indiana Regional Partnership – that was awarded $50 million in READI 1.0 and READI 2.0, matching funds to support quality of life, quality of place and quality of opportunity projects across Blackford, Delaware, Fayette, Grant, Henry, Jay, Randolph and Wayne counties. The region’s READI investments, including the Main Street Mile Initiative, are designed to accelerate economic growth, regional prosperity and population growth through investments in quality of life, housing and infrastructure, childcare and family support, and education and opportunity.  

During Friday’s visit to campus, D. Michael Lindsay, Taylor University’s President, expressed his gratitude to Secretary Rosenberg for the READI program. “Taylor is thriving with new growth and record enrollment. We want our town to thrive as well. We’re very grateful for Indiana’s partnership with us through this critical funding.” Dr. Lindsay reaffirmed Taylor’s commitment as a supporter of READI 2.0’s three-pronged mandate for Upland and beyond: improve the quality of life, the quality of place, and the quality of opportunity.

The Ivanhoe’s Drive extension is the most recent development in the largest series of revitalization projects in the history of Upland. In August, Governor Eric Holcomb joined community and academic leaders for a groundbreaking for a pedestrian connection that will link downtown Upland and the business district with Taylor University’s campus. This complements an ongoing $18 million INDOT project to rebuild more than a mile of Main Street beginning in downtown Upland and extending to Taylor’s campus.

The revamped corridor is only the beginning. Over the next five years this town of just 750 households will be a beehive of new development. Upcoming projects include a boutique collegiate hotel, retail and office space, a destination restaurant, and nearly 100 new homes or apartments.