Perry County moved this month to translate long-standing local priorities into a formal bid for state economic development funds when commissioners voted 3-0 on Oct. 21 to create a READI 2.0 steering committee. The seven-member regional panel, announced in meeting minutes posted to the county website, will draft a $30 million application to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation with a submission deadline in March 2026. Commissioner Luke Thomas (District 1) was named chair of the new committee.

The county posted the formal resolution online on Oct. 23, and the Perry County News published a roster and the committee’s initial meeting details on Oct. 31. The committee’s first public work session is scheduled for Nov. 13 at Tell City Hall, an event the county announced on its Facebook page. County officials have said the panel will meet in public so project proposals and every dollar allocation will be subject to resident review.

The proposed grant would fund three shovel-ready projects residents had already ranked highest in a 2024 community survey: extending broadband service to roughly 1,200 unserved homes, constructing a workforce training annex at the Tell City PL (TCPL) site, and creating riverfront trail connectors. Those priorities are presented against a local economic backdrop that includes a median household income roughly $12,000 below the Indiana average and lingering workforce gaps — following a recent Waupaca Foundry expansion, 40 manufacturing positions remained unfilled last quarter.

A successful award from the state would require a 20 percent local match, calculated at $6 million. County leaders plan to source that match from existing tax-increment financing (TIF) districts, a move designed to avoid raising property taxes. The funding strategy and the public nature of committee meetings will be central topics for the steering committee as it shapes the grant narrative and scoping documents that must accompany the IEDC application.

Key local players expected to be involved in developing the proposal include Commissioner Luke Thomas, Tell City Mayor Jim Adams, Perry County Economic Development Director Jessica Lynch, and Ivy Tech Chancellor Danielle Gowen. The resolution establishes the framework for the committee’s work but still leaves two seats unfilled; confirming those final appointees is a near-term follow-up item for county leadership.

For residents, the immediate implications are clear: the Nov. 13 visioning session will be a primary opportunity to submit ideas, shape priorities and scrutinize proposed allocations. The county’s online meeting minutes, the official resolution PDF on perrycounty.in.gov, the Perry County News report (Oct. 31, page A3) and the county’s Facebook page will carry updates and agendas as the committee moves toward its March deadline.

Locally rooted but connected to larger state and regional development efforts, the READI 2.0 push reflects a concentrated attempt to close digital divides, strengthen workforce pipelines and make public spaces more accessible — all while using existing financing tools to shield residents from new tax burdens. The coming weeks’ public meetings will determine how closely the final application lines up with community expectations.