Greencastle, DePauw awarded Lilly Endowment planning grant

The City of Greencastle and DePauw University have been awarded a $250,000 College and Community Collaboration (CCC) Initiative planning grant from the Lilly Endowment.

This grant provides the city and university with resources to create a plan with other key stakeholders that develops and revitalizes the corridor between DePauw University and downtown Greencastle.

City and university leaders believe that this process can help address the shared need between the university and city to attract and retain a talented and committed workforce. Needs to be addressed may include housing, and enhancing the quality of educational, recreational and aesthetic offerings in Greencastle.

City leaders and university leaders are united in their enthusiasm for the grant and the College and Community Collaboration Initiative more broadly.

“The city is looking forward to our partnership with DePauw to grow on the foundation of the Stellar Communities work with the support of the Lilly Endowment,” Greencastle Mayor Bill Dory said.

Dionne Jackson, vice president for institutional equity at DePauw, added, “As a relatively new member of the DePauw and Greencastle communities, I am excited about the opportunity to serve on the leadership team of this grant. I look forward to the opportunities to connect with and learn from our community regarding needs the grant might address.”

Greencastle and DePauw partnered in 2011, when the city received a $15 million Stellar Communities grant from the State of Indiana’s Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The grant, with support from DePauw, allowed Greencastle to revitalize the courthouse square and downtown, as well as support new business growth and community initiatives.

Looking forward, the CCC planning grant can help the city and university pursue elements, such as housing and corridor development adjacent to the work of the Stellar Communities program.

Andrea Young, vice president for finance and administration, noted, “DePauw has a long history of working with the Greencastle and Putnam County communities to provide amenities, such as the DePauw Nature Park, Starbucks and the Ashley Square Cinema. We are excited to continue that collaboration as we work with community and campus stakeholders to find solutions to problems that challenge all of us, such as a lack of available housing.”