READI 2.0 Funding Supports Community Driven Innovation Hub in Batesville

Friday, June 20, 2025 at 7:22 AM

By City of Batesville, news release

The Batesville Arts & Innovation Hub is an 8,300-square-foot expansion of the Batesville Memorial Public Library.

(Batesville, Ind.) - Local leaders and community partners gathered on June 19 to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Batesville Arts and Innovation Hub, a transformative project supported by $2 million of Indiana READI 2.0 funding through the Accelerate Rural Indiana Regional Development Authority.

The Batesville Arts & Innovation Hub is an 8,300-square-foot expansion of the Batesville Memorial Public Library designed to serve as a regional anchor for creativity, education, and entrepreneurship. It will include a 200-person multipurpose event space and theatre, a fully equipped maker space with tools for 3D printing, a laser cutter, vinyl printer, an audiovisual recording studio, arts and crafts, and indoor and outdoor collaboration areas. The facility will also house quiet study spaces, blending traditional library services with hands-on innovation.

“The Arts & Innovation Hub will be a space where creativity and community thrive—designed to empower learners, makers, and innovators across our region,” said Director Kim Porter of the Batesville Memorial Public Library.

The project is a collaborative initiative between the library, local schools, arts organizations, and nonprofits, aimed at strengthening STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education, boosting small business development, and supporting career exploration and mentorship opportunities. The Hub is a key part of the City of Batesville’s downtown revitalization strategy and is expected to attract regional talent and investment while enhancing quality of life for the local community.

“This groundbreaking marks more than the start of construction—it represents a bold investment in Batesville’s future,” said Batesville Mayor John Irrgang. “The Batesville Arts & Innovation Hub will be a place where people of all ages come together to learn, create, and grow,” Irrgang added.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2026.