State unveils Stellar Pathways finalists
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The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs on Tuesday announced the four regional finalists for the 2024 Stellar Pathways program.
The program—a revamped version of the former Stellar Communities initiative—will ultimately award nearly $13 million to two regions to support community development projects.
The finalists were selected out of 19 letters of interest received by OCRA. The agency said they were chosen based on their “demonstrated ability to collaborate, communicate effectively, implement projects, address challenges, secure additional funding and engage the community.”
The four finalist regions are:
- One Dearborn County: Stellar Pathways for Indiana Gateways, including, Dearborn County Economic Development Corporation, Dearborn County, Dillsboro and Greendale
- Connect LaGrange County, including, LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation, LaGrange County, Town of LaGrange, Shipshewana and Topeka
- Wabash County, including, Wabash County, City of Wabash, North Manchester, Roann, LaFontaine and Lagro
- Warren County Region, including, Warren County and Williamsport
OCRA paused the original Stellar Communities program in 2020 due to the pandemic. The agency relaunched the program as Stellar Pathways earlier this year with a greater focus on regional collaboration on community and economic development among rural communities.
Each finalist will receive $50,000 for the development of its final strategic investment plan. The finalists will also receive a customized, one-day workshop in August with the Indiana Communities Institute at Ball State University that will cover project alignment and continued planning efforts.
“This was a very competitive review process, and it is evident these four regions worked hard to earn the Stellar Pathways finalist designation,” OCRA Executive Director Duke Bennett said in a news release. “I look forward to seeing the impact the Stellar Pathways process will have on these communities.”
The two winning regions will be announced in January 2025.
Bennett previously told Inside INdiana Business that OCRA is looking for transformational proposals that take a community to the next level, with more emphasis placed on the quality of the project rather than other community factors. The two final selections are the projects that stand out with the biggest potential impact, he said.
Regions are being encouraged to focus on projects that enhance quality of place, promote community wellness and strengthen local businesses. Bennett said the program aims to serve as a catalyst for additional private investment in future projects.
You can learn more about the Stellar Pathways program by clicking here.
Cate Charron contributed to this article.