Applications Open for READI 2.0 LEI Arts & Culture Initiative

February 18, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

State to invest $65M in projects that strengthen quality of place, attract and retain talent, and position Indiana communities for long-term economic growth.Applications for the READI 2.0 LEI Arts & Culture program are now open. This is a tremendous opportunity to invest in the cultural assets and infrastructures that make our region unique. Reminder that the IAC regions do not align exactly with the IEDC regions.

Applications Now Open
The application portal is officially live: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=indianaarts.
We encourage interested organizations and partners to create an account (if new to the IAC portal) and begin reviewing the application.Application Deadline — April 15, 2026 (5:00 PM ET) –

All required questions and uploads must be submitted by this deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

IEDC Webinar February 10 Recording

Did you miss the READI 2.0 Arts & Culture Initiative Informational Webinar last week? No worries — we’ve got you covered. A full recording of the session is available here for anyone who would like to review the details, revisit key guidance, or share with partners.

Regional Plan & Supporting Materials

Each IEDC region has developed its own arts strategic plan. These materials outline how projects will be evaluated for alignment with each regional strategy and goals. Reviewing these resources will help ensure your proposal clearly connects to the broader vision for your specific region.

East Central Indiana Arts Plan – serving Blackford, Delaware, Fayette, Grant, Henry, Jay, Randolph, and Wayne counties.

Accelerate Rural Arts Plan – serving Decatur, Rush, and Shelby counties

Central Indiana Arts Plan – serving Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Putnam

Southeast Arts Plan – serving Dearborn, Ohio, Switzerland, Union, Franklin, Ripley

Review all plans here: https://www.indianareadi.com/resources

What’s Next
Connect with your IEDC regional leadership and watch for additional resources to support project and application success such as: 
  • Application workshops walking through requirements and expectations
  • Guidance on aligning projects with the regional strategy
  • Tips for developing strong, competitive proposals
  • Opportunities for one-on-one conversations and project feedback

Where to Get Help
Program and eligibility questions can be sent to nkouton@iedc.in.gov & heyoung@iedc.in.gov.
Technical support with the IAC online grants system can be directed to grantsadmin@iac.in.gov. 

Additional Resources