Chesterton YMCA marks first READI 2.0 investment in northwest Indiana
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Officials in Chesterton this week broke ground on a new YMCA campus, but the project marks something more than just a new health facility.
The Duneland YMCA campus is the first project in northwest Indiana that’s being helped by Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative 2.0 funding.
The project—which will turn an old middle school into a new YMCA complex—is getting $1 million out of the $500 million made available to communities throughout the state by the READI 2.0 program.
In a news release, Duneland YMCA CEO Dave Kasarda said his organization is happy to be part of the region’s first READI-funded construction.
“Recognition from the READI 2.0 project is essential for driving transformative growth and development within our communities,” Kasarda said. “With this support, we can ensure that key initiatives not only thrive but also provide long-term benefits that uplift and sustain the entire community.”
The Duneland YMCA project will cost a total of $8 million to complete. The project will transform the 225,000-square-foot former Duneland School Corp. middle school building into a 105,000-square-foot facility, and the site will also feature a 20-acre community park.
Officials say a new combined campus will include a performing arts center, space for other not-for-profits like health care and childcare providers and traditional YMCA services. A groundbreaking for the building took place on Monday. Construction on the park will begin next spring.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. and Gov. Eric Holcomb have spent the last few weeks touting projects from around the state—such as the NexusPark expansion in Columbus and The Dominion in Warrick County—as the first in their respective regions to use READI 2.0 funding.
In total, the northwest Indiana region was granted $95 million between READI 1.0 and 2.0 for community projects.