INDIANAPOLIS -- Lt. Governor Becky Skillman announced Monday that Greencastle and North Vernon will be the pilot communities for the new multi-year, multi-million-dollar Stellar Communities program.
Stellar Communities is a first of its kind collaboration initiated by Lt. Governor Skillman between INDOT, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Agency, and the State Revolving Fund to help fund communities' strategic plans.
"It's important for governments to stretch every dollar as far as possible. Stellar Communities has taught us to be intentional and strategic in the way we deliver grant funding to local governments," Lt. Governor Skillman said. "It will help our agencies collaborate more, be more efficient, and make a bigger impact with the dollars we have."
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.
Forty-two communities submitted proposals to become a pilot community. After scoring the plans, the top 12 communities were asked to submit more details, and site visits were conducted by staff from each agency. Lt. Governor Skillman intends to continue Stellar Communities next year, and cities that did not win this year may re-apply for future rounds.
Lt. Governor Skillman will travel to Greencastle for a celebration ceremony on Thursday afternoon. Its plan will revitalize the downtown area; link the city more closely with DePauw University; and improve the quality of life through new initiatives in health, the arts, and technology.
"Stellar Communities will allow us to improve our city in ways that wouldn't otherwise be possible," Greencastle Mayor Susan Murray said. "With this help, we will create the next great college town in Indiana."
North Vernon, the only city between Muscatatuck Urban Training Center and Interstate 65, will use their funds to become an economic hub for the defense industry. Planned improvements include a new event center, a pedestrian plaza, improvements to the Irish Hill neighborhood, and creating more commercial opportunities on Main Street. Lt. Governor Skillman will hold a celebration in North Vernon on Friday.
"Our region is not able to take full advantage of Muscatatuck without a vibrant North Vernon," Mayor Harold "Soup" Campbell said. "Without Stellar Communities, we would certainly lose out on millions of dollars of economic activity."
Funding for the initiatives comes from multiple existing federal funds. State agencies will continue to offer grant programs to local units of government not participating in Stellar Communities.
Details on the community celebrations will be announced later this week.