Regional Cities Projects Move Forward

The Embassy Theatre is requesting $1.7 million in Regional Cities funding.

The Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority is recommending two more projects for Regional Cities Initiative money. The funding would cover some of the costs for multi-million dollar projects at Fort Wayne’s Embassy Theatre and the YMCA of DeKalb County.

The Embassy Theatre is requesting $1.7 million in Regional Cities funding for a $10 million project. It involves a two-story-high ballroom, rooftop garden, breakout and rehearsal spaces, classrooms and improved public access areas. The effort aims to attract renters who would have otherwise been turned away because of a full schedule.

The YMCA of DeKalb County is seeking $947,000. The organization is proposing a $7.2 million project featuring a fieldhouse, natatorium, playground, indoor training facility and soccer and football fields.

The partnership says both projects support the region’s "Road to One Million" plan, aiming to grow the population of northeast Indiana. The effort includes more than $1.5 billion in investment over the next 10 years. The partnership last month tapped former ARCH Inc. Executive Director Michael Galbraith to lead the initiative.

The recommendations now go to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. for consideration.

The RDA is overseeing the disbursement of the $42 million granted to the region through the Regional Cities Initiative established last year. It consists of Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley counties.