Welcome

Indiana’s Stellar Communities

A first of its kind collaboration between:

Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA)Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA)Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT)

Agenda•Opening Remarks•Program Overview and Process•Requirements of the Program•Letter of Interest Criteria•Q & A

•Networking Break

•Forum with our first pilot communities.

Introduction• The Stellar Communities pilot program is a

multi-agency partnership designed to fund comprehensive community development projects in rural Indiana communities.

Program Overview• Agency Roles and Partnerships.

• Stellar Communities embodies collaborative government partnerships to successfully leverage state and federal funding from multiple agencies to undertake large-scale comprehensive community revitalization projects. 

• Through this program, Indiana is achieving more with combined resources, making an enduring impact on communities.

• This is a fluid process!

Strengths• Indiana’s Stellar Communities Program is a

comprehensive community development program focusing on:▫Regionalism▫Creating expedited physical transformations▫Cultivating Relationships/Partnerships▫Utilizing shared resources▫Engagement of the community in planning

process▫Acceleration of community economic goals

Stellar Communities Process• Call for Letters of Interest• Stellar Communities Informational Forum-focus

on LOI.• Letter of interest Submitted by 2/10• Evaluations (announcement 2/21)• Chief Elected Officials of finalist communities

attend a workshop (Tentative--March 2)• Finalists submit Strategic Investment Plans• Site visits and evaluations• Award announcements• Community celebrations • Follow-up with communities not selected• Three year construction and implementation

Stellar Community-Requirements

•Must be a Chief Elected Official.•Must have a recent comprehensive plan.•Must have documented and have

demonstrated capacity to complete proposed activities—including the ability to submit a response to a Request for Proposal and in good standing.

•The Letter of Interest must be signed by the communities chief elected official.

•Submit the Stellar Communities Information Sheet with the Letter of Interest.

Stellar Community-Requirements

•We are looking for TWO documents on Feb 10!

▫The Completed Letter of Interest-Signed by CEO.

▫The Stellar Communities Information Sheet

Letter of Interest-CriteriaLetters of Interest will be evaluated based

on:

•Regional Value-Added Impact and future investment potential.

•Reasonableness and scope of project.•Financial Capacity.•Resource Availability and leveraging of

community assets and partnerships.•Coordinated approach in multi-project

management and coordination .

Letter of Interest•Describe your community on a holistic level.•Do not cater letter to agency funding

resources.•However…cater to your community needs

that mesh with the interests of the agencies.•Generally talk about potential projects•Helpful to describe a targeted area of

comprehensive community revitalization• Include potential complementary projects.•The letter shows a personal touch

Q&A

Indiana’s First Stellar Communities

•Greencastle (Putnam County) Mayor Susan Murray

•North Vernon (Jennings County) Mayor “Soup” Campbell

City of Greencastle• Revitalize courthouse square and central

business district • Create pedestrian friendly residential

areas• Enhance housing options - second story

loft housing in commercial district and new construction in South Court neighborhood

• Home owner repair and improvement• Community health initiatives, including

new community health center and new trail linking community to recreational area

• Partnership with Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

• Technology hub/Wi-Fi bubble in commercial district

City of North Vernon• Arvin Redevelopment site - 3.5 Acre

Brownfield site, clearing the way for private investment

• Carnegie Library Restoration• Depot Events Center Renovation • Downtown Streetscapes • Historic Uptown Streetscape

improvements and home owner repair improvement in the Irish Hill neighborhood

• Close Short Street to construct pedestrian-friendly plaza space

• Main Street Development - mixed use for both commercial and residential development

Q&A

Thank you!