Indiana Launches READI Fellowship Program
A three-year program led by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation will embed team members in Hoosier communities to support local and regional priorities.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Remote Work
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Indiana has announced the READI Fellowship Program, a three-year initiative led by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation in partnership with Intend Indiana, a statewide nonprofit. The program will provide resources and technical expertise to Hoosier communities.
Why it matters
The program is designed to address a lack of staff capacity, fragmented efforts, and a lack of capital that limit economic and community development outcomes. Officials project that READI's impact on the state will continue for years to come.
The READI Fellowship Program runs for three years, with team members embedded in Hoosier communities to help execute local and regional priorities. No funding totals or participating community counts were disclosed in the announcement.
The players
Indiana Economic Development Corporation
The state economic development agency that leads the READI Fellowship Program in partnership with Intend Indiana.
Intend Indiana
A statewide nonprofit organization partnering with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to lead the program.
The details
The program will embed team members in Hoosier communities to help them work strategically and collaboratively and execute local and regional priorities. It is designed to address three gaps that limit economic and community development outcomes.
Timeline
Program announced on November 1, 2026 by Indiana officials.
Accelerator program runs for three years.
Market Landscape
The fellowship extends Indiana's READI regional development effort by adding embedded staff rather than new capital alone. It targets the staffing and coordination gaps that have fragmented local efforts across the state.
Indiana residents in participating communities may see new staff and technical support for local development projects over the program's three-year term. No specific resident-facing services or eligibility details were disclosed.
The takeaway
Community development programs that pair funding with embedded staff may address the coordination gaps that slow local progress. Residents can watch whether the three-year effort produces measurable results in their communities.
Further reading
Explore more on Remote Work and how states are building workforce and community development programs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WIMS.
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