An $11 million upgrade to Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts is one of 70 projects included in Northeast Indiana’s bid for $42 million in state economic development funding.
If the money is secured, the Journal Gazette reported Wednesday, the grant would be used to help pay for $1.4 billion in investments across the 11-county area over the next 10 years. Thirty-eight projects and $400 million in investments would be implemented in the first two years, including the expansion of the Wagon Wheel in Warsaw and construction of an expanded $2.6 million Manchester Early Learning Center.
Officials unveiled Tuesday what’s included in the region’s bid, called “The Road to One Million,” a portfolio of 70 quality of life amenities and attractions aimed at drawing and retaining young talent. Projects include those that could be implemented in the first two years as well as longer term plans and ideas for projects beyond the state’s initial eight-year timeframe, the Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority said in a release Tuesday.
The state legislature approved $84 million for the Regional Cities Initiative, enough to award two $42 million grants this year. Submissions are due to the state Monday, but the selection committee will do most of its work in October. The full IEDC board is expected to vote and announce its final decision in December, the Journal Gazette reported.
Will Dawson, Wagon Wheel Executive Director, said the portion of funding the theater receives will help it implement plans for renovation developed since it became a non-profit in 2012. Plans include adding an event space, symphony hall and possibly a cafe with attractions like a piano bar, which he said will build on the draw the theater already has in the region.
“It’s a very regional theater that has a nationally recognized program,” Dawson said this morning. “The stage is unique to the region and the renovation of the new building and facility will set the bar much higher, really on par with the productions that happen onstage.”
In November 2014, the theater changed its name from Wagon Wheel Theatre to Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, and also announced a new logo, a new vision and named Dawson executive director. In November 2014, Moake Park Group posted on its website illustrations and conceptual drawings of possible additions and renovations to the facilities.
“We’ve always felt it’s a great project and we are excited to be part of what is sort of the final round,” Dawson said. “There’s a lot of work to do between now and then, and we’re thrilled to be part of it.”
He said the amount of funding Wagon Wheel might receive toward the needed $11 million is unclear, and that it will need to be supplemented by matching funds from the city as well as a capital campaign. He said they just finished a feasibility study and feel comfortable moving forward, and will go public with the capital campaign once they secure a few larger donations.
“The amount will really be determined by the Regional Cities Initiative; beyond that, I don’t know, it’s only speculation. It will be a significant number but far from the entire amount – we will have to hit the capital campaign pretty hard,” he said. “We still have a long way to go, it’s still in the infancy stages of not even a public capital campaign. It’s taken so long to start the campaign because we want it to be right.”
The Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority consists of Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley counties, according to its website at neindiana.com/regionalcities. The RDA was formed June 24 to apply for matching funds available through the state’s Regional Cities Initiative.
Only the RDA may apply to the new state funded Indiana Regional City Fund (administered by the Indiana Economic Development Council) for matching grants and loans; it may also accept loans, grants and other contributions from federal, state and private sources. If Northeast Indiana is selected as a winning Regional City and can move quickly to implement projects, the region will be eligible for additional funds in subsequent years.
The Regional Cities Initiative is a public-private partnership proposed and led by Governor Mike Pence with support from the Indiana Economic Development Corp. The goal of the Regional Cities Initiative is to make Indiana a magnet for talent by creating a national identity for Indiana cities.
(Story By The Times Union)
