Join us March 24 for the next session in the Indiana Uplands Housing Series!
Indiana Uplands Housing Series: Creating a Livable Community – What’s in Your Toolbox?

Join us March 24 for the next session in the Indiana Uplands Housing Series!
The Launching Center is ready to Launch, and the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence County is eager to welcome teens into a reimagined space that will provide transformative learning opportunities.
What started as one man's way of generating retirement income is bringing a small downtown back to life.
The Dawgs Den is a digital fabrication lab at Orleans High School, one of three installed across the Collaboration of Shoals, Mitchell, & Orleans Schools (COSMOS) in 2020.
In 2019, ROI awarded a Ready Communities grant to CDFI Friendly Bloomington. In its first year, it has generated valuable partnerships with CDFIs and a pipeline of potential projects in the Indiana Uplands region.
We’ve added two new sessions to the Indiana Uplands Housing Series!
Helping developers and public officials smartly evaluate proposed developments and the impact they may on communities and the tax base.
ROI’s Digital Inclusion Initiative will accelerate efforts to achieve the digital capital, necessary for regional prosperity & economic competitiveness.
ROI has awarded 6x quality of place grants in five Indiana Uplands counties in the latest round of Ready Communities Implementation Grants.
In this session, you will learn how Indiana communities are removing blighted and dilapidated properties to improve the quality of their housing stock.
In ROI's next session, we will explore what lenders look for in housing development finance packages and how developers can find appropriate financing.
These awards highlight the amazing people and groups working to make the Indiana Uplands a terrific place to work, live, learn, and play. This year’s seven award winners were announced at ROI’s 2020 Annual Report to the Region held virtually on Tuesday, October 13.
Mandy Buskirk, a Cohort 1 STEM Fellow from Eastern Greene Elementary, used her year of Fellowship as the starting point for a host of STEM endeavors that benefit students of all ages. “I have made significant changes in my teaching and school since joining the ROI STEM Fellowship,” said Buskirk. “Our principal changed my life … Continue reading From STEM Fellow to STEM Leader
In ROI's next session, you will learn how to assess your community's readiness for housing, determine the cost and benefit of new housing units, and plan for next steps.
In ROI's next session, we will discuss challenges with rental housing units in the Indiana Uplands and explore exciting multi-housing projects underway.
Nominations must be completed by September 22, 2020, and awardees will be recognized October 13, 2020.
In ROI's next Housing Webinar Series, we will highlight communities that are taking advantage of vacant lots and redevelopment opportunities close to community centers.
Explore workforce housing challenges, needs, and strategies for advancing housing opportunities in the Indiana Uplands.
Sixteen K-6 educators from the Indiana Uplands region will spend a year developing teaching and leadership skills to advance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities in classrooms and schools.
In observance of the holiday this week, Regional Opportunity Initiatives will be closed July 1-3.
ROI has awarded a $1.2 million Ready Schools implementation grant to Monroe County Community School Corporation.
Linton-Stockton School Corporation, Richland Bean-Blossom Community School Corporation, and White River Valley School District have each been awarded a $250,000 Ready Schools implementation grant.
The principal nomination window for Cohort 4 of STEM Fellows is now open!
Nine months ago, the third STEM Fellows cohort embarked on an education and leadership journey to improve STEM education throughout the Indiana Uplands. ROI selected 35 elementary educators to learn not only STEM content and pedagogy but also peer coaching and leadership. Over the academic year, Fellows engaged in professional development in project-based learning, computer … Continue reading 35 educators graduate from STEM Fellow program
ROI is happy to share that we have extended the timeline for organizations to apply for Round 3 of the Ready Communities Implementation Grant Program.
A Message from Regional Opportunity Initiatives: IMPORTANT NOTICE: The ROI Ready Communities, Round III Grant Workshop scheduled for March 17 has been canceled (both the live workshop and the Zoom virtual meeting). In response to changing circumstances and potential spread of COVID-19, we understand that many priorities have changed for members of our communities. We … Continue reading March 17 Grant Workshop Canceled
Up to $1.14 million in grant dollars is available to advance quality of place and workforce attraction in the 11 counties of the Indiana Uplands.
ROI is pleased to share that all 11 counties in the Indiana Uplands have completed Quality of Place and Workforce Attraction plans.
ROI has announced that 12 quality of place implementation grants have been awarded in seven counties in the Indiana Uplands as part of its Ready Communities program.
Indiana Uplands is the state’s third 21st Century Talent Region, a statewide designation awarded to Indiana communities focused on working collaboratively to attract, develop and connect talent.
View the Indiana Uplands Housing Study
ROI is pleased to share that nine counties in the Indiana Uplands have completed Quality of Place and Workforce Attraction plans.
Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation (RBBCSC) has been selected for the third cohort of ROI’s Ready Schools initiative.
Bloomfield School District has been awarded a Ready Schools Implementation Grant totaling $405,000.
Fellows develop skills to become a STEM leader within their schools and encourage other teachers to integrate STEM into their curriculum.
A collaborative of three school districts - Mitchell, Orleans & Shoals Community Schools – has been awarded a Ready Schools Implementation Grant.
Linton-Stockton & White River Valley Schools selected for third cohort of ROI’s Ready Schools initiative.
Spencer-Owen Community Schools has been awarded an ROI Ready Schools implementation grant totaling $500,000.
Eligible organizations encouraged to attend August 6 workshop to learn guidelines, timeline, and process.
The innovation ecosystem flourishing around Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane. It’s the result of NSWC’s intentional investment, outreach, and development of strategic partnerships with industry, academia, nonprofits, and other federal labs.
In a region with many opportunities in advanced manufacturing, White River Valley's machining program lights a pathway to future prosperity.
An externship experience that exposes teachers, counselors and school leaders to the wide variety of STEM-focused career opportunities in the Indiana Uplands.
A student-run enterprise with transformative learning experiences
A new focal point for the potential of downtown Huntingburg.
Developing leaders through next-generation ag science & tech.
In regionalism, the whole is more than the sum of its parts.
ROI was honored to welcome Danny Lopez, Chair of the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, to deliver the keynote address at the Annual Report to the Region. Mr. Lopez’s presentation, titled “Pathways, Pipeline, & Partnership” showcased Governor Holcomb’s Next Level Jobs Initiative.
ROI’s experiential learning and career awareness programs help students understand the rich regional career opportunities and make informed choices about their pathways.
Three special guests from significant partner organizations gave reports on Indiana Uplands’ key industry sectors of life sciences, national security and defense, and advanced manufacturing.
On April 18, hundreds of Hoosiers from all over Indiana Uplands and beyond gathered in French Lick for ROI’s third Annual Report to the Region.
Outside the classroom, high school students in Brown County & Loogootee, Indiana, are gaining real-world work experiences as employees, leaders, and entrepreneurs in student-run businesses.
Thanks to all who attended the ROI Annual Report to the Region on April 18! We hope you enjoy photos from the day!
Regional Collaboration Award Mitchell Community Schools in Lawrence County Orleans Community Schools in Orange County Shoals Community Schools in Martin CountyQuality of Place Innovation Award City of Huntingburg Market Street ParkSTEM Innovation Award Paoli High School Agriculture DepartmentPathway Innovation of the Year White River Valley High School Precision Machining ProgramTalent Innovation Award Loogootee Community Schools … Continue reading Announcing the Indiana Uplands Regional Innovation Award Winners
Ready Communities grants to enhance quality of place and workforce attraction strategies in the Indiana Uplands Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) has opened up applications for its first round of Ready Communities Implementation Grants for projects in counties that have completed a Quality of Place and Workforce Attraction Plan. Three rounds of funding will be available … Continue reading ROI opens application for first round of Ready Communities implementation grants
Employers, educators, community leaders, economic development organizations, workforce development professionals, and nonprofits are gathering April 18 at the French Lick Resort Event Center for ROI’s third Annual Report to the Region. This event is free and open to the public.April 18: ROI Annual Report to the RegionFrench Lick Resort Event Center • 9:00–11:00 ROI's Annual … Continue reading April 18: ROI Annual Report to the Region
ROI encourages interested citizens to share their impressions and opinions about the current housing market in the Indiana Uplands.
The Ready Communities Initiative will provide counties and communities the resources necessary to strategically plan for, develop, and implement projects and programs that build quality of place, grow regional capacity for workforce development and attraction, and improve the attributes and amenities that make the Indiana Uplands a desirable place to live, work and play.
To help grow our future cybersecurity workforce, we need to expose more kids to responsible computer security and engineering skills at younger ages.
Initiative aims to align school districts to the education and workforce needs of employers and industry in the Indiana Uplands
Eighteen educators from schools in the Indiana Uplands gathered July 30-31 at WonderLab Museum to begin a year-long leadership and teaching program to advance science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities in K-6 schools.