NexusPark to receive $4.2 million state grant to expand campus

Indiana Economic Development Corporation Press Release

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) today announced that Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative 2.0 (READI 2.0) projects are officially moving forward in south central Indiana with the expansion of NexusPark, a health, wellness and recreation center dedicated to improving the lives of Hoosiers in Columbus and surrounding communities.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb established the now $1.25 billion READI program in 2021 and has since been recognized nationally for its success. READI 2.0, which was part of the Governor’s 2023 Next Level Agenda and passed 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 the quality of life for Hoosiers in the short and long term. READI 2.0 funding allocations were made in April to 15 regions representing all 92 Indiana counties.

“Indiana’s READI program has challenged local and regional leaders to think creatively and strategically about their future, and the NexusPark project is an inspiring example of repurposing – transforming an abandoned shopping center into a regional destination for health and wellness, recreation, and economic impact,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg. “This development is already driving community connections and regional growth, and this next phase of investment will build on this momentum, creating a lasting impact on Hoosiers in Columbus and the south-central region.”

In Columbus, the region’s first READI 2.0 project will build on a READI 1.0 development: the creation of NexusPark, which is transforming an abandoned shopping center into a health and wellness destination. The first phase of the project includes the development of an indoor sports facility, a regional hub for wellness-related services, the city’s park administration offices, community spaces for residents and families, and an outdoor park and trail space.

Now, the region is investing $4.2 million (including a $1 million READI 2.0 allocation) in the next phase of the development that will add synthetic turf to six outdoor baseball fields in adjacent Lincoln Park and create a suite of complementary amenities, enhancing the future outdoor campus that will include green space, trails, lighting and outdoor restrooms. With the recent addition of NexusPark Fieldhouse, synthetic turf at Lincoln Park will create new opportunities for combinations of indoor and outdoor sporting events and extend the event season, increasing the economic benefit by approximately $950,000 annually. The project is expected to break ground later this year and be complete by the end of 2025.

“The adaptive reuse of a former shopping center into NexusPark, a 550,000-square-foot health and wellness center, was made possible by READI 1 funding. State funding through READI 1 magnified the impact we could have on the quality of life for our local residents and gave a healthy boost to our sports tourism industry,” according to Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon. “Additional funding from the state through READI 2.0 allows us to grow regional sports tourism and increase both the number of events we can host and the quality of the games. If the goal of READI funding was to create economic impact, that goal has been met in Columbus by helping to make these investments in our region and the city’s future.”

READI 1.0 has awarded $487 million to 353 unique projects and programs across the state, resulting in $12.6 billion invested (26:1 investment leverage ratio) in quality of life, quality of place, and quality of opportunity initiatives. READI 2.0, which secured additional funding from Lilly Endowment Inc., is allocating another $750 million to accelerate community development investments across the state. This funding is expected to attract a minimum of 4:1 local public and private funding, resulting in at least $3 billion invested to increase the vitality and prosperity of Indiana communities.

Columbus is part of the South Central READI Region, led by the Southern Indiana Housing and Community Development Corporation, which received a total of $60 million in READI 1.0 and READI 2.0 matching funds to support quality of life, quality of place, and quality of opportunity projects in Bartholomew, Jackson, and Jennings counties, as well as the City of Edinburgh. The region’s READI investments, including the NexusPark expansion, are designed to inspire and cultivate collaboration between businesses and communities to build powerful technologies, thriving communities, and a resilient future by focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship, education and workforce development, housing, and quality of place.

Learn more at IndianaREADI.com.