Governor Mike Pence announced Tuesday that three Indiana regions – North Central, Northeast and Southwest – were chosen from a group of seven to receive funding from the Regional Cities Initiative. But there are still questions as to whether the governor can deliver all of the funding.
The General Assembly set aside $84 million from the state’s Tax Amnesty program to pay for the Regional Cities Initiative, intending it to be split between two regions. The program aims to generate collaboration between communities and help foster economic development. But Governor Mike Pence says three regions set themselves apart as equally worthy of funding –so he’ll ask lawmakers to set aside extra money generated through tax amnesty.
“I think the enthusiasm that you sense in the room today from all across the state of Indiana will certainly help us make our case," he says.
If lawmakers say no, IEDC President Jim Schellinger says there are two options: "Do we take and award two at $84 million --being 42 a piece -- or do we break up 84 by three?" he asks.
But Strategic Review Committee Chair John Thompson doesn’t think the second option is on the table.
“We’ll have to make decision on what two regions would get funding if they didn’t give us the additional money," he says.
Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, whose region was one of the three chosen, says he’s not worried about getting the extra money from the legislature, just excited to be awarded the funding.
“I suspect we wouldn’t have gotten to this point today if there hadn’t been significant discussions making people feel comfortable that the additional money can be appropriated," Winnecke says.
Pence says money can begin going out to the three winning regions even before the legislature decides whether to award the extra funding.
