Bedford Moving Forward With Another Stellar Project
Bedford was designated a Stellar Community in 2013.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowBedford will use more than $2.6 million from the Indiana Department of Transportation for its Downtown Square streetscape project. The city says the project is part of the Indiana Stellar Community initiative.
Construction on the streetscape project is expected to begin this month. The planning process included meetings between city leaders and downtown merchants to discuss ways to make downtown Bedford more business-friendly. The funding also includes Community Crossing Grant funds, which will allow the city to address traffic and road condition issues. The plan includes a roundabout, street paving and new sidewalks.
Downtown revitalization has been a big focus for the city since its 2013 Stellar Communities designation. Bedford has been working with Lochmueller Group on the process. Major goals include providing residents with healthier lifestyle opportunities and encouraging economic development.
The projects are a sign of continued momentum in recent years. In 2015, General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) announced it would invest more than $127 million in its Bedford Casting Operations and create more than 120 jobs. The plant makes parts used in Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles. Last year, the more than $8 million Stonecutters Place Senior Apartments, which is a signature piece of Bedford’s Stellar Communities program, opened in a building that dates back to 1920.