Fair Oaks Farms, Newton County, Indiana – Northwest Indiana is poised to establish Marvella, the first sports complex in the United States devoted to developing female athletes, in an aspirational drive to lead the country in supporting girls’ sports and leadership. Supported by state, municipal, and regional officials, this revolutionary facility is part of a $38.8 million development project that promises to drive both the sports economy and leadership development for young women.
Marvella will be located in Fair Oaks Farms in Newton County, utilizing the farm’s standing as a top agritourism destination to provide a special sports and family experience. Indiana’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative 2.0 (READI 2.0) recently provided $500 million in funding to projects ready to propel community development and economic progress over the state. Part of Governor Eric J. Holcomb’s larger READI program set for 2021, this supported project currently has a budget of $1.25 billion and national attention for its effect on Indiana’s communities.
Courtesy of Marvella
Governor Holcomb highlighted the need of keeping the momentum Indiana has acquired in women’s sports.
“Right now, Indiana is riding a wave of momentum in women’s sports,” said Gov. Holcomb per the news release. “It’s important we don’t take our foot off the gas and that we continue to tap into our state’s strength in sports. This is a project to keep your eyes on, and I’m certainly excited to see the impact of this facility on our communities and future leaders, our state and our leading sports ecosystem.”
Though predicted to generate almost 1,000 employment and significantly increase local tax collections, the complex is going to attract more attention than only sports. With an eye toward producing well-rounded young athletes, its programs will address leadership development, mental health, wellness, and nutrition. With construction scheduled to start this fall and completion aimed for spring 2026, the first phase of the Marvella complex will comprise a 600,000-square-foot facility with sixteen indoor courts and fields.
The new chair of the Marvella Foundation, Allison Barber, Ph.D., expressed her enthusiasm about the project’s possibilities.
“I want to thank the IEDC for this grant, as well as Marvella Founder and President Glenn Tilley for inviting me to join his team and their mission. Glenn’s foresight and vision to launch the country’s first girls sports and leadership campus provides us the opportunity to honor the state of Indiana as the birthplace of Title IX, and most importantly, for Indiana to lead the country through sports to develop confident, healthy female leaders for the future,” Barber said.
Courtesy of Marvella
With a range of events, camps, and clinics, the project is expected to draw a lot of sports tourism and already sparks attention from national sports groups. Future phases of expansion will stretch the complex to include a championship arena, a health and wellness center, a museum honoring women in sports and leadership, and extra outdoor fields.
Apart from state financing, Marvella is supported by a combination of public and private investments including philanthropic donations and social impact investments. By utilizing redevelopment tax credits, which are anticipated to generate additional project investments, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) has also provided assistance.
Marvella’s development is evidence of Indiana’s will to provide settings where young women may flourish and assume leadership. Marvella is not only creating a sports facility but also reshaping women’s sports and leadership in America with such strong backing and creative planning.
