MAAC Foundation receives READI funds for Public Safety Innovation Campus
VALPARAISO. Ind. (Feb. 12, 2026) – The MAAC Foundation, a first responder training campus in Valparaiso, announced that it has been awarded $500,000 in Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 2.0 funds from the Northwest Indiana Forum.
These READI 2.0 funds will contribute to a $9 million expansion of MAAC Foundation’s Public Safety Innovation Campus in the form of a new two-story building designated the MAAC HQ and Kathryn Hall. This 24,500 square foot facility will serve as the organization’s primary office space and feature more than 10 additional classrooms and training rooms, including two large indoor K-9 training spaces.
“This expansion represents an exciting next chapter for the MAAC Foundation. It means more training opportunities, stronger partnerships, and ultimately, better-prepared first responders who can elevate their readiness for real-world emergencies,” said Nicole Gladstone, president and CEO of the MAAC Foundation. “We couldn’t have done this without support from our donors and sponsors, as well as amazing partners like the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation, Kathryn McMillan, and the Northwest Indiana Forum who all believe in our mission to serve the first responder community.”
In less than 10 years, the MAAC has grown from a single building into a 30-acre, fully comprehensive first responder training campus with over 40 buildings, structures and specialized training areas. The campus serves more than 100 unique departments from across Northwest Indiana and beyond, including firefighters, police officers and EMTs. On average, the MAAC Campus is utilized more than 15 hours every day, and more than 115,000 hours of training took place in 2025 alone.
Through a partnership with the Indiana District 1 Training Council, the MAAC offers a realistic, hands-on approach to emergency services training. Since it was established in 2017, the MAAC has hosted over 550,000 direct training contact hours with classes ranging from hazmat technology and propane fires to K-9 units and SWAT teams. MAAC’s educational outreach also extends to the public through community events as well as safety courses like CPR, de-escalation and self-defense.
The MAAC also hosts several academies each year including a career fire academy, a volunteer fire academy, an EMT training course, and a fire and rescue vocational program for high school juniors and seniors. For more information, visit MAACFoundation.org.
Indiana's $1.25 billion READI program is bringing vibrancy to regions across the state to accelerate shovel-ready projects and programs that will transform Hoosier communities, attract talent and improve quality of life. READI, which has been nationally recognized for its success, encourages regional collaboration and data-driven, long-term planning that will benefit current and future residents for generations to come. The state's $1 billion investment, which secured additional funding awarded by the Lilly Endowment, is expected to attract a minimum 4:1 match of local public, private and nonprofit funding, yielding at least $3 billion invested across all 92 counties to enhance Indiana's quality of life, quality of place and quality of opportunity.
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Building the Future of First Responder Training at the MAAC
We are thrilled to announce an expansion to the MAAC Foundation First Responder Training Campus in the form of a large, dual-purpose building: a new two-story MAAC HQ and an adjoined one-story K9/first responder training building, Kathryn Hall. Kathryn Hall honors Kathryn McMillan, whose generous donation has made this additional training space possible. This innovative development will address our current space limitations and strengthen our commitment to supporting first responders.
The new MAAC Headquarters, made possible by the generosity of the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation, will feature more classrooms and skill-training rooms to support firefighters, EMS professionals, and law enforcement officers as well as additional expanded office space to accommodate its growing team and partnerships. These enhancements will allow the MAAC to host more courses, workshops, and practical simulations that strengthen responder readiness and interagency collaboration.
First and Second Story Plans for MAAC HQ & Kathryn Hall
MAAC HQ
The new MAAC Foundation Headquarters marks a major step forward in our mission to provide world-class training and support for first responders. This two-story facility will serve as the central hub of our growing campus, designed to foster collaboration, expand educational opportunities, and strengthen our ability to serve the responder community.
Funded through the generosity of the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation, the new HQ features dedicated EMT training spaces on the second floor, including skill rooms, simulation areas, and classrooms built to support the next generation of emergency medical professionals. This investment supports not only the physical expansion of our campus but also the growth of our team and the development of new programs and training opportunities.
The first floor houses additional classrooms and training rooms for firefighters, law enforcement, and all first responder disciplines, as well as expanded office and conference spaces for our growing team and partners. Together, these additions will enable the MAAC to host more courses, hands-on workshops, and training exercises that prepare responders for real-world challenges.
With this expansion, the MAAC Foundation continues to invest in training that saves lives, creating a space where knowledge, experience, and innovation come together to strengthen public safety across Northwest Indiana and beyond.
Kathryn Hall
Kathryn Hall will serve as a dedicated indoor K9 training facility designed to allow handlers to have a training space regardless of weather conditions.
Made possible through the generosity of Kathryn McMillan, this one-story building adjoins the new MAAC Headquarters and provides a flexible, climate-controlled space where first responders can train year-round. Inside, K9 teams will find specialized training areas, helping prepare dogs and handlers for search and rescue, detection, and law enforcement operations.
Kathryn Hall includes a fully equipped dog wash station, a garage and parking area for officers transporting K9 units, and multi-purpose classrooms that can be used by any responder discipline. These features create an environment that is both practical and humane, offering safe, efficient, and realistic training scenarios that enhance teamwork and performance.
Together with the new MAAC Headquarters, Kathryn Hall reflects our continued mission to provide cutting-edge, collaborative training opportunities for those who serve our communities with courage and dedication.
Current Progress
November 6th, 2025 Groundbreaking Photos
Week 30
The Carpenters are continuing with the installation of the walls and have also started working on the floor joist over the office area and breakroom.
Cleary is working on the getting the metal ceilings and walls in the K9 side.
Week 29
Week 28
Trout has started to install the upper windows and the entrance doors to the K9 Area.
Bloomfield continues to install ductwork in the rafters of the two-story area. They have also started to install the plumbing on the K9 side.
L&D concrete crews completed the West and East sides along with the sidewalk that leads to the K9 Area.
L&D Carpenters are moving forward with walls on the first floor of the HQ building.
Circle R continues to install the wiring in the K9 area. They have also completed the concrete pole bases for the parking lots.
Week 27
Week 26
Kleckner continued to install the roof insulation in the K9 area and has moved over to the two-story roof. They plan on working on Saturday to try and stay ahead of Bloomfield. The wall insulation has also started in the K9 Area.
Bloomfield started the installation of the duct work in the K9 area along with the Carpenters starting on the framing of walls.
The Iron Workers installed the steel for the front entrances.
Week 25
Week 24
Construction Concrete Day
Week 23
Cleary did not have a good week but was able to recover somewhat on Friday with the finishing of the Metal Roof on the South side of HQ. They also started clearing excess materials around the perimeter, and they set them temporarily near the K9 area. On one of the rain days, they did work in the Cleary Shop to build the Cupola's. They have also started installing some of the overhangs.
Week 22 Part 2
ECE also started compacting and backfilling stone inside the building for the upcoming concrete pour.
Week 22 Part 1
Week 21
Week 20
Week 19
Week 18
Week 17
Week 16
The week seen more activity than the last couple of weeks.
Circle R was back to work on additional light pole bases.
ECE worked with H&G Underground Utilities to connect the domestic water line to the new main on the South side of Montdale and brought the line up inside the building.
ECE and H&G also connected to the Sewer Manhole in front of Heroes Hangout and pulled an 8" sewer line to the new manhole in front of HQ. ECE also tied in to the same manhole and started running the sewer line into the building.
ECE also started working on the Fire Hydrant & Fire Sprinkler Line on the North side of HQ.
Cleary finished the purlins on roof and started to work on the soffits and overhangs on the one story section.
Week 15
With the warmer weather and melting snow, the area turned into a bit of a wet sand pit that slowed the ability of installing the trusses on the one-story portion of the building. Crews continued to work but switched to work that they could safely get to. Window frames were started along with additional cross bracing. The end wall between the 1 and 2 story was installed on Thursday to help strength the movement of the building during the high winds that we saw today. Additional cabling was also put in place.
Week 14: Part 2
It took a good portion of Friday morning to get the alignment of the building and the end wall set. Multiple cables were placed both inside and outside the frame to hold the building in alignment. On Friday afternoon an additional 5 trusses were set. On Saturday the crew continued to work and is hoping to set the rest of the trusses on the upper two story part of the building.
Week 14: Part 1
Circle R worked on setting forms for the light poles and poured concrete on Thursday along with the transformer pad. The Transformer Pad also has the temporary power stand set next to it.
Cleary brought over extra crew for a few days to try and catch up on the lost days due to weather. Most of the week was spent on installing Shear Walls, Cross Members and Door Headers.
Week 12
Week 13
Cleary continued to work this week although a bit slower due to the weather. Who can blame them. The majority of the columns are up, and they are now working on the crossmembers. 
Week 11
Week 11 of construction and you can start to envision the new MAAC HQ & Kathryn Hall! The weather hasn't been very cooperative but construction continues apace and we should see a fully framed building by mid-February and metal siding and roof in place by mid-March!
Week 10
The week started out well on Monday with Cleary crews arriving on site and moving materials around to get organized and start setting column brackets on the foundation wall. On Tuesday Cleary finished installing the column brackets and started setting posts on the East side of the building. Crews did not work on Wednesday or Thursday due to the weather, but additional materials were delivered by Cleary.
Week 9
Week 6
Week 5
Since the last update, the carpenter crew did a good job working through the weather to get the finishing touches on the above ground footers and also pour the concrete for the footers. The excavation crew also connected and installed the main storm drain line on the North Side of the building.
Week 2
Week 1
Yesterday was the kickoff meeting lead by Larsen Daniels soon to start construction on the new building. Today, Egolf Coates Excavation has started clearing the snow to allow for the silt fence to be installed by Modern Edge Landscaping. Egolf Coates has also started on the construction entrance and once the silt fence is up will start removing the soil and bringing in fill.
