CreatINg Places program brings community support to local projects
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In 2016, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) established the CreatINg Places program to aid crowdfunded placemaking projects in communities across the state. Since then, the agency has matched funds for over 270 projects, and the program continues to grow.
The CreatINg Places program awards matching grants to crowdfunded projects through a unique model called “crowdgranting.” The IHCDA will match money crowdfunded by projects, led by not-for-profit or government entities, that meet their goal of between $5,000 and $50,000 on the fundraising site Patronicity.
One goal of the “crowdgranting” approach is to uplift the communities through these placemaking projects while also getting the community itself involved.
“It’s really cool in that it provides communities the opportunity to allow members of their town or city to buy into projects they want to see in their community, and then the state comes alongside and doubles the impact of those dollars,” explained Megan Heber, placemaking and environmental review manager at the IHCDA.
One such project which is currently in the crowdfunding process is led by Perceptions Yoga, Mindfulness & Art Inc. in Jennings County. The non-profit provides a range of art and yoga programming, and is raising money for a wheelchair lift at its facility.
“There aren’t many resources out there to help organizations like ours that’s just a small rural, very rural, we’re in a town of 300 people, Vernon is the smallest county seat in the state our county is 27,000, and we’re the only nonprofit provider of arts and yoga experiences, we use all donation-based” said Charlinda Evans, Perceptions co-founder and President of the board.
The company aims to reach its crowdfunding goal of $20,000 by Sept. 15 in order to qualify for matching funds. Evans emphasized the importance of making Perceptions’ facility, which is located in a two-story 180 year old building, accessible to all.
“It’s integral to make sure that everybody can access as much of our facility as possible. It really is our main classroom space for our arts,” she explained. “We serve a bunch of seniors in our community … Since they’re one of our main demographics, it’s integral that we get this in place to expand the facility for them.”
Evans speaks about the importance of having a wheelchair lift installed at their facility.
Perceptions has raised over $7,000 toward its $20,000 goal so far. You can access its Patronicity campaign here.
All of the placemaking projects aided by the CreatINg Places program are centered around activating or improving spaces that will benefit and uplift the community. Projects range from addressing needs like increased accessibility to art installations.
“We’ve seen a lot of creative projects, a lot of murals public art, public seating, plazas, trails, fitness stations, splash pads, makers spaces, all sorts of stuff like that too. It’s great because it’s a program that’s funded through state development fund dollars, so we don’t quite have the restrictions that federal funding would have and so it gives communities some flexibility to meet them where they’re at and what the community most needs to benefit everyone,” said Heber.
Dance Kaleidoscope in Indianapolis is a previous recipient of CreatINg places funds. The not-for-profit had its $50,000 in crowdsourced funds matched by the IHCDA in order to renovate its facilities in the Circle City Industrial Complex.
Executive Director Kim Gutfreund said that working with the CreatINg Places program was a great experience, and that the funds they received helped to not only create a studio for the dance company, but commission a mural for the space and transform part of it into an asset for the community.
“I think [IHCDA’s] whole mission is really how to bring community in, and it’s really enabled us to do that,” Gutfreund explained. “We’re really proud of this space. We’re renting the space to other groups and hosting open rehearsals every month for free. It’s helped us connect better with our community.”
The CreatINg Places program has been around for eight years, and in that time the IHCDA has awarded $9.3 million dollars in matching funds to a total of more than 270 placemaking projects throughout the state.
“We’re moving at a pretty good pace, and from my vantage point I don’t expect it to slow down any time soon,” said Heber.
The IHCDA has also expanded the program with the addition of two smaller initiatives that aim to bring funding to two specific demographics. My Community, My Vision is a program that uses the same funding and model as CreatINg Places, but is targeted at high school students who are raising funds for community placemaking projects. Additionally, AARP Indiana has partnered with the IHCDA on the CreatINg Liveable Communities program, wherein it will match up an additional $5,000 for five place-based projects per year that are focused on aging in place and accessibility for seniors.
Organizations are eligible to apply for the CreatINg Places Program program if they are a not-for-profit entity (with 501c3 or 501c4 status) or a local unit of government, and projects must have a minimum development cost of $10,000. According to the IHCDA, around 96% of projects in the program are successful in reaching their goal and receiving matching funds.
“It’s a really great opportunity for any organization doing capital improvements who want to be a part of the community,” said Gutfreud. “We were able to use every dollar in a way that really impacted our organization.”
You can find more information about IHCDA placemaking initiatives by clicking here.