State, regional, and local leaders have announced plans to establish the nation’s first sports complex dedicated to empowering girls sports and leadership in Fair Oaks Farms, Newton County. The project, known as Marvella, is supported by Indiana’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative 2.0 (READI 2.0) and is expected to create approximately 1,000 new jobs while boosting tax revenue in the northwest Indiana region.
Governor Eric J. Holcomb, who launched the $1.25 billion READI program in 2021, hailed the development as a significant step towards harnessing Indiana’s strength in sports and empowering female athletes. The Marvella complex will focus on youth athletes, offering leadership, character development, mental health and wellness, as well as fitness and nutrition programming. It will also host tournaments, camps, and clinics, becoming a hub for sports tourism and the sports economy.
The first phase of the project involves a $38.8 million investment to build a 300,000-square-foot facility with 16 courts and fields. Future phases will include a health and wellness center, a women in sports and leadership museum, a championship arena, and outdoor fields. Marvella is working with various organizations, including the Jasper Newton Foundation and Billie Jean King Enterprises, to support low-income athlete scholarships and program delivery.
Funding for the project comes from a combination of public dollars, private equity investments, debt financing, social impact investments, and charitable funding. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) has committed to supporting Marvella through redevelopment tax credits and Newton County will provide additional incentives.
The establishment of Marvella highlights Indiana’s commitment to promoting female empowerment through sports and is part of a larger initiative to boost community development investments statewide. READI 2.0, with additional funding from the Lilly Endowment Inc., is expected to attract a minimum 4:1 match of local public and private funding to increase the vibrancy and prosperity of Hoosier communities.
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