Grant finalists present regional development plans

INDIANAPOLIS – The Office of Community and Rural Affairs has announced five finalists have completed the last step in the Stellar Communities designation process. The program encourages Hoosier communities to work toward comprehensive regional planning.

“The respective regions worked diligently together, which was evident in the delivery of each presentation,” Jodi Golden, executive director of OCRA, said. “I’d like to applaud the hard work, collaboration and commitment from the five finalists this year and I look forward to seeing their plans be put into action.”

Greencastle and North Vernon were the first Stellar Community Grant recipients in 2011.

Through the annual designation, the Stellar Communities Program helps communities by utilizing previous planning efforts, leveraging existing assets, fostering regional investments and stimulating continued growth.

The Stellar Communities finalist regions are:

Health and Heritage – comprised of the city of Greenfield, the town of Fortville and Hancock County.

Eastern Indiana – comprised of the town of Liberty, cities of Richmond, Rushville and Union City, and Randolph County.

Marshall County Crossroads – comprised of the towns of Argos, Bremen, Bourbon, Culver, LaPaz and Plymouth and Marshall County.

Mt. Comfort Road Corridor – comprised of the towns of Cumberland, McCordsville and New Palestine.

New Allen Alliance – comprised of the town of Grabill, Leo-Cedarville and Monroeville and the cities of New Haven and Woodburn and Allen County.

The Stellar Communities Program will designate two regions as Stellar Communities Designees on Monday, Dec. 10.

Purdue University’s Center for Regional Development will assist the selected regions with long-term sustainability efforts and project implementation.