The Harrison County Council heard a request Monday night to support an effort to make Corydon stellar.

Led by Main Street Corydon and the Town of Corydon, an application to the state is in the works for the town to possibly achieve "Stellar" designation.

Two communities are selected each year, one with a population of less than 6,000 and the other over that threshold. Corydon would fall under the 6,000 mark.

"The winning communities receive the expertise and resources of 11 partner state agencies for four years, which includes about $6 million in funds, for the years 2017-2020," Catherine Turcotte, Main Street Corydon executive director, said.

Each community's application must contain a big idea.

The town of Corydon's big idea is to complete the revitalization of historic downtown Corydon and to increase its viability by creating a mixed-use project at the old Keller Manufacturing Co. property (Main Street Corydon owns the 14-acre site) in north Corydon with the following: a park, 500-capacity event space, adjoining offices, parking garage (to raise the buildings out of the flood plain and to accommodate residents and visitors), multiple types of housing, retail and restaurants, all connected to downtown Corydon by a new, upper and lower, urban trail.

"We believe this, coupled with a great project like the Indian Creek Trail, fairgrounds investment and discovery center will make Corydon — and Harrison County — the premier community where all generations thrive in the greater Louisville area," Turcotte said.

The project, if approved, will be a coalition of the town, Harrison County Community Foundation, county, state and a private developer.

To attract the state's investment through the Stellar Communities designation, the request calls for $1 million per year for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 from the county and also the same amount from the HCCF.

The council did not vote on the matter and will not until it is approved by the Harrison County Board of Commissioners.

The commissioners will address the issue at Tuesday's meeting (moved from Monday because of Presidents Day) at 7 p.m.

Turcotte said a verbal commitment will be needed by March 11.

The program has five key performance indicators used to determine recipients: increase assessed value, grow population, increase per capita income, increase educational attainment and increase public school enrollment.

When it comes to return of investment, the project will bring an estimated $30 million into the community, according to calculations from the state's return-on-investment calculator.

Turcotte, after a question from Councilman Kyle Nix, said it's likely the Town of Corydon will overtake the maintenance responsibilities at the facility and park area.

Councilman Gary Davis questioned the validity of the state's alleged available funding and wondered where it was coming from.

"They get their money from us or from the federal government," Davis said. "And they (federal government) can turn the tap off at any time."

Councilman Jim Heitkemper said the county put money into the Pacer Court extension project (behind Walmart leading to Corydon-Ramsey Road) and that was a good thing.

"Sometimes you've got to feed the fire," he said.

Councilman Richard Gerdon said he's glad to see the Town of Corydon has agreed to participate financially.