Rural Communities Receive ‘Vital’ Funding

(Image courtesy of The Hoosier Gym.)

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More than $10 million in federal funding will support Main Street, public facilities and water infrastructure projects in smaller communities throughout the state. Indiana Office of Community and Rural Development Executive Director Jodi Golden says the Community Development Block Grant support boosts long-term economic growth and community development in parts of the state that continue to "have to do more with less." Recipients include the city of Greensburg for downtown street revitalization, the town of Knightstown for work on the historic Hoosier Gym and the town of Sullivan water treatment plant and collection system upgrades. In all, the state’s allocation this year totals nearly $28 million. Golden says the total that will be distributed next year has been increased to $30 million.

Golden tells Inside INdiana Business recipients face challenges in securing capital support for projects that are often ‘vital’ to their community. "This was a very competitive round and so the communities that applied and the communities that were ultimately funded really did a good job being able to demonstrate the need and the community support project," she said. "They did a really good job of showing the residential impact these projects are going to have."

Recipients just announced include:

• The City of Greensburg through OCRA’s Main Street Revitalization Program – $600,000 to upgrade the southern half of Main Street between Broadway and Franklin streets and on the south side of the courthouse square.
• The City of Greenwood – $500,000 for senior center renovations through OCRA’s Public Facilities Program.
• Jackson County – $225,000 for rehabilitation of the more than century-old Vallonia Community Center through OCRA’s Public Facilities Program.
• The Town of Knightstown – $500,000 to rehabilitate the historic Hoosier Gym through OCRA’s Public Facilities Program.
• The Town of Napoleon – $500,000 for the construction of a new fire station through OCRA’s Public Facilities Program.
• The Town of Walton – $500,000 to build a new community center through OCRA’s Public Facilities Program.
• The City of Alexandria, The Town of Centerville, The Town of Greentown, The Town of Jamestown and The Town of Summitville all received $600,000 for stormwater system improvements through OCRA’s Stormwater Improvement Program.
• The Town of Carbon – $172,000 for wastewater system improvements through OCRA’s Wastewater Drinking Water Program.
• The City of Connersville – $600,000 for wastewater system improvements through OCRA’s Wastewater Drinking Water Program.
• The Town of Grandview – $491,675 for drinking water system improvements through OCRA’s Wastewater Drinking Water Program.
• The Town of Holland – $600,000 for drinking water system improvements through OCRA’s Wastewater Drinking Water Program.
• The Town of Kirklin – $600,000 for drinking water system improvements through OCRA’s Wastewater Drinking Water Program.
• The City of New Castle – $600,000 for wastewater system improvements through OCRA’s Wastewater Drinking Water Program.
• The Town of Poneto – $600,000 for wastewater system improvements through OCRA’s Wastewater Drinking Water Program.
• The Town of Sullivan – $700,000 for wastewater system improvements through OCRA’s Wastewater Drinking Water Program.

In April, an $11 million round of CDBG recipients was announced. The process for the first round of proposals for the 2018 version of the program wrapped up in July and the second round will begin August 27. Proposals are due October 5 and final applications must be in by November 30.

You can connect to more details about this round of recipients by clicking here.