The Indiana Economic Development Corporation joined local and regional officials in Greenfield recently to break ground on the Amplify Hancock, a dedicated and cohesive hub for growing the region’s skilled talent. The space is being supported by funding from Indiana’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI).
Governor Eric J. Holcomb established the $1.25 billion READI program in 2021, and it has since been nationally recognized for its success. READI 1.0 was established with an initial $500 million in partnership with the Indiana General Assembly and is bringing vibrancy to regions across the state to accelerate shovel-ready projects and programs that will transform Hoosier communities, attract talent and improve quality of life.
“Indiana is powering our future in new and strategic ways thanks to READI and our partnership with local and regional communities statewide,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg. “Amplify Hancock will elevate talent development and skills training to prepare Hoosiers for the in-demand jobs of today and tomorrow, while ensuring that Indiana has the workforce needed to support continued industry innovation and economic growth.”
Amplify Hancock is a $48 million development (including a $1.4 million READI 1.0 allocation) that will establish a new facility for workforce and career track education and training on 20 acres at the northwest corner of County Road 300 N and County Road 200W in Greenfield. The first phase of the project will construct and equip a 106,000-square-foot facility to accommodate training and educational needs for employers, schools and adult learners in Hancock County. The new space will house workforce training curriculums for high school students across the county’s four school corporations, will offer adult education from Ivy Tech Community College, and will allow local employers – starting with partner Hancock Regional Hospital – to have a presence at the facility to enable employee development.
The facility, which was designed by Ratio Architects and is now being constructed by Meyer Najem, is expected to be completed by July 2026. The site also allows ample space for expansion in the future.
“Amplify Hancock is definitely a transformational project for our community and our region," said Hancock County officials. "We are thankful for the award of READI funding that helped kickstart this project. The combination of education and private industry will provide workforce and higher education opportunities as well as encourage economic growth for years to come."
READI 1.0 has awarded $487 million to 353 unique projects and programs across the state, yielding $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 was part of Gov. Holcomb’s 2023 Next Level Agenda and secured additional funding awarded by the Lilly Endowment, is allocating another $750 million to accelerate community development investments statewide. This funding is expected to attract a minimum 4:1 match of local public and private funding, yielding at least $3 billion invested to increase the vibrancy and prosperity of Hoosier communities.
Hancock County is part of the READI 1.0 70-40 Mt. Comfort Corridor region – led by the Hancock County Economic Development Council – that was awarded $5 million in READI 1.0 matching funds to support quality of life, quality of place and quality of opportunity projects. The region’s READI investments, including Amplify Hancock, are designed to emphasize the livability and attractiveness of the region, drive entrepreneurship and the connections between employers and workers for lifelong learning, and accelerate growth for decades to come.
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