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Northeast Indiana Competes For Up To $84 Million In State Money

Lisa Ryan, WBOI News

Northeast Indiana presented its regional cities initiative Tuesday in the hopes of receiving state money for 70 projects spread throughout the area. The plan includes improving quality of life and attracting people to the region.

Northeast Indiana’s region makes up 11 counties, the largest number of counties collaborating for a proposal. It’s competing against six other regions. Northeast Indiana’s proposal is called The “Road to One Million,” and its goal is to grow the area’s population from about 790,000 to a million people by 2031.

Regions are competing for up to $84 million in state grants. However, the combined local projects in Northeast Indiana are projected to cost $1.4 billion. The rest of the money needed for the proposal would come from public and private funds. Without any regional cities initiative money, Northeast Indiana representatives estimate an 18 percent funding gap.

The proposal includes plans to develop Fort Wayne’s riverfront, building a park around a covered bridge in Roann, and renovating the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts in Warsaw.

The project would also include adding 100 miles of trails throughout the region.

Other ideas around the state include plans to expand public transportation and invest in education.

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