Four southwest Indiana counties are vying for state money in the Regional Cities program.
Officials have created the Southwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, which consists of Gibson, Posey, Warrick and Vanderburgh counties.
The group is considering more than 100 ideas to be supported by potential funds, including river front development in Evansville, converting the closed New Harmony School to an arts center, strengthening broadband access, and developing an event center and student housing at Oakland City University.
Forming the regional group was a required step to receive the state money. The Indiana General Assembly approved $84 million for Regional Cities Initiative funding, which will be shared by two regions: southwest Indiana and southern Indiana -- east of the Evansville area.
The effort targets population stagnation by providing funding for talent and quality of place initiatives.