BATESVILLE — We really, really wanted to be Stellar, but state officials felt we apparently don’t need to be Stellar. Greencastle and North Vernon were chosen as the pilot cities for the new multi-year, multi-million-dollar Stellar Communities program, Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman announced March 7.
“State agencies will invest an estimated $31 million in the two communities over three years. The cities of Greencastle and North Vernon will invest an additional $9 million in local and private funds,” according to the news release.
“Batesville placed a strong fourth,” Mayor Rick Fledderman reported. He also was told Princeton came in third of the 12 finalists.
Through phone conversations, the mayor learned “they were very impressed with what we did. There is supposedly going to be some assistance coming to Batesville. I don’t know what it is yet.”
Stellar Communities is a first-of-its-kind collaboration initiated by Skillman between the Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority and State Revolving Fund to help fund communities’ strategic plans.
Forty-two communities submitted proposals to become a pilot community. After scoring the plans, the top 12 were asked to provide more details and site visits were conducted by staff from each agency. The lieutenant governor intends to continue Stellar Communities next year, and cities that did not win this year may re-apply for future rounds.
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