Gov. Braun Increases Housing Affordability, Availability in Fort Wayne

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Indiana Governor Mike Braun is creating more housing at a reasonable price for Indiana’s workforce, particularly first-time buyers, in Fort Wayne with the Victory Gardens community, a new Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) investment.

"Affordable housing is a top concern for professionals and families choosing where to live, work and play, and I’m making sure we’re delivering housing that doesn't break the bank for Hoosiers,” said Gov. Braun. “Investments like these are strategically designed to increase housing options and make it more affordable for Hoosiers to live at every stage of life, whether that’s starting a career, growing a family or enjoying retirement.” 

In Fort Wayne, local and regional officials today broke ground on Victory Gardens, a planned 74-home, owner-occupied community in the city’s Tillman-Hessen Cassel Corridor. The $24 million development, which is being supported with $1.09 million in READI funding, is designed to expand access to quality, affordable homeownership. The neighborhood will include a mix of single-family homes, duplexes, townhomes and zero-lot-line units at competitive rates.

The Realtist Association of Northeast Indiana – one of the project partners – will offer a six-month homeownership preparedness program for prospective buyers, including topics like credit repair and readiness, mortgage and financing options, homeowners' insurance and more. Victory Gardens’ projected ripple effect is expected to create 322 local construction jobs and generate $5.24 million in state and local tax revenue.

“READI is driving community investment forward like never before, shaping Indiana neighborhoods into desirable and competitive places to live,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Chuck Goodrich. “Hoosier communities statewide are attracting new business investment and new jobs, and the availability and affordability of housing is essential to their continued economic and population growth. Projects like Victory Gardens and a focus on supporting first-time homebuyers are creating more opportunities for Hoosiers.”

Indiana’s READI program is a $1.25 billion investment in regional-led strategies designed to strengthen communities, retain and attract top talent, and increase opportunities for Hoosiers for years to come.

Fort Wayne is part of the READI Northeast region – led by the Northeast Indiana RDA – that was awarded $95 million in READI matching funds to support quality of life, quality of place and quality of opportunity projects across the 11-county region. The region’s READI investments are designed to accelerate the region’s trajectory as an innovative, vibrant and winning region by growing hardtech and medtech industry leadership, fostering creative sector innovation, and supporting population growth through infrastructure, housing, childcare, education innovation, community connectivity and cultural vibrancy

Learn more at IndianaREADI.com.

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Griffin Reid
Office of Governor Mike Braun
Email: greid@gov.in.gov
Cell: 317-391-9475

Hope Orono
IEDC
Email: hoorono@iedc.in.gov
Cell: 317-671-1796

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