State Uses Federal Money To Help Rural Community Development

Elwood and Fairmount are among nine communities to receive the first grants from a state pilot program that wants to help develop small downtown cores.

The state says the IMPACT Main Street program hopes to strengthen and protect existing businesses, encourage expansion, and create job opportunities by infusing resources in downtown cores.  The money comes from a federal grant and the state’s Office of Community and Rural Affairs will oversee the process.

That office’s director, Jodi Golden, says growth is the most important metric in seeing whether the program works.

“Ultimate success would be to see diverse economic growth come out into these communities.”

Each pilot community will work with Ball State University’s Indiana Communities Institute to analyze unique market conditions, attract new local businesses, and launch a business investment strategy.

The first community reciepents include: Seymour, Fairmount, Tell City, Tipton, Rockville, Sullivan, Dillsboro, Elwood, and LePorte.