Regional Economic Acceleration + Development Initiative (READI) funds support current and future residents by adding wellness resources and community amenities in Princeton
PRINCETON, Ind. (October 19, 2020) – Today, partners in the Evansville region gathered to break ground for a 56,000 sq. ft. Toyota Indiana YMCA in Downtown Princeton. The $21 million facility is slated to open in Summer 2024 offering first-class amenities to residents and prospective talent interested in working for Toyota or its suppliers.
“The new Toyota Indiana YMCA will provide access to all, helping Gibson County residents with the resources they need to live better lives,” said Leah Curry, president of Toyota Indiana. “And a resilient community benefits us all.”
Toyota Indiana YMCA is set to open to the public summer of 2024 at 215 West Water Street, Princeton, IN. Its location is the former Lowell South property which was donated to the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana Inc. by the North Gibson school trustees in December of 2020.
“The Toyota Indiana YMCA in Gibson County will be more than an exercise facility, said Johnathan Pope, president and CEO of the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana.” “YMCAs often become community centers that connect people from all walks of life and this community will benefit greatly from their new gathering space.”
Equipped with a gymnasium, a competition pool, a teaching kitchen for nutrition education, a STEM lab, youth recreation areas, and more; the Toyota Indiana YMCA will provide access to all through financial accessibility, physical accessibility, and cultural accessibility.
Funding for the $21 million facility is a culmination of community support, private entity support and government support, including $5 million in Regional Economic Acceleration + Development Initiative (READI) funds. READI is an initiative geared toward accelerating Indiana’s population growth by supporting regional economic development strategies focused on making Indiana cities and towns a magnet for talent.
In December 2021, the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP) on behalf of the Southwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) led efforts to secure $50 million in READI funds to enable the community’s strategic plan currently underway and known as TalentEVV.
The Evansville Region has the transformational vision to become a nationally recognized place to call home through the work of TalentEVV. The strategic location of the Toyota Indiana YMCA is already proving to be a catalyst for significant private investment as workforce housing and entrepreneurial opportunities have been announced in the surrounding blocks. The facility is an attractive amenity that will increase the Evansville region’s ability to compete for population and business growth.
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