RUSHVILLE, Ind. — Leaders from Shelby, Rush and Decatur counties and Batesville will put $50 million in state money to work to build hundreds of homes and create hundreds of jobs, said a news release issued Monday.
Accelerate Rural Indiana announced the milestone at its State of the Region event on Thursday at the Love Community Center in Rushville. The group confirmed it finished spending its first $20 million state grant ahead of a 2026 deadline and is now starting on a second, larger $30 million award.
The initial $20 million from the state’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative sparked a wave of investment. Leaders expect the projects to bring in more than $408 million in private spending and more than $34 million from local governments. This brings the total investment to more than $485 million. The money is paying for 270 jobs, 600 homes, 260 childcare spots and 170,000 visitors each year.
Bryan Robbins, who chairs the Regional Development Authority board, said in the release that the success comes from having projects ready to go as soon as the money was available. Robbins said the results of the past five years prove that these counties are stronger when they work together. “The public investment isn’t the final destination, only a catalyst.”
For the additional $30 million, local government leaders have already approved 22 projects and were moving quickly to spend the funds. The region expected this second round of funding to lead to more than $1.25 billion in private spending and more than 400 jobs.
During the event, leaders gave ceremonial checks to four communities. Greensburg and Decatur County received $9.1 million for six projects, including a 200-seat childcare center. Shelbyville and Shelby County will use $8.4 million for six projects, including a nonprofit center and development along Tom Hession Drive. Batesville received $5.95 million for four projects, including an innovation hub, while Rushville and Rush County received $4.9 million for six projects.
The region is also getting an extra $8.6 million from the Lilly Endowment. About $3.2 million of that will go toward fixing up seven historic school buildings that have fallen into disrepair. A panel of project leaders shared their visions for how that redevelopment should happen.
The event took place at the Love Community Center, which itself was a result of $4 million in state funding. The center now houses the public library, an early learning facility, a senior center, a food pantry, and a recreation center with a pool.
Greensburg Mayor Joshua Marsh presented the first Spirit of Regionalism Award to Tami Wenning. Wenning, the director of the Decatur County Community Foundation, managed the money during the early stages of the program.
The Accelerate Rural Indiana group started in 2021 and officially became a Regional Development Authority in 2023. This legal setup allows counties to pool their resources for big projects. The board includes Bryan Robbins, Virgil Bremer, Bruce Everhart, Andy Saner and David Toll.
Rushville and Rush County representatives are shown Oct. 1, 2026, at an Accelerate Rural Indiana event at Love Community Center in Rushville, Indiana. (Provided Photo/HWC Engineering)
Batesville representatives are shown Oct. 1, 2026, at an Accelerate Rural Indiana event at Love Community Center in Rushville, Indiana. (Provided Photo/HWC Engineering)
Greensburg and Decatur County representatives are shown Oct. 1, 2026, at an Accelerate Rural Indiana event at Love Community Center in Rushville, Indiana. (Provided Photo/HWC Engineering)
Greensburg Mayor Joshua Marsh, a Republican, on Oct. 1, 2026, presented Accelerate Rural Indiana’s first Spirit of Regionalism Award to Tami Wenning, the director of the Decatur County Community Foundation, at Love Community Center in Rushville, Indiana. (Provided Photo/HWC Engineering)
