Upland and Taylor University begin revitalization to connect school and community

In Grant County, Upland and Taylor University officials are celebrating expanding the connection between the university and downtown corridor. As IPR’s Thomas Ouellette reports, it’s a multi-million dollar project.

Upland is using a $30 million grant from the Lily Endowment and $70 million in matching dollars to fund improvements in the small town, including a new mile-long pathway connecting it to Taylor University.

Governor Eric Holcomb says the project serves as an example of statewide progress.

“There’s a reason why Indiana is experiencing the growth and the momentum that Taylor is,” Holcomb said. “It’s because we do cast a vision, we do put a plan in place and execute and implement, we do measure our success or our shortcomings and then we share the good news.”

Projects already begun include a new apartment complex.  The next five years will see the completion of multiple projects, including expansion of the local public library, new housing, a boutique collegiate hotel, retail and office space, and a destination restaurant.

Taylor University President Michael Lindsay says Taylor will soon begin this school year with the largest freshman class in the university’s history.

“We have great schools, great parks and trails, and we’re known for a strong sense of community,” said Lindsay. “You take those kind of assets and you bring it together with an investment of $200 million the sky is the limit.”

Officials are including Taylor’s commitment of another $100 million for on-campus improvements to the plan’s total of $200 million.

Lindsay also says 25 percent of the community actively participated in the planning process. He believes that it was the community’s direct involvement that has led to the immense support the revitalization project has seen.

“We think it’s going to be a national model for how a university and a community can work together for the thriving of their community.”

In addition to breaking ground on the downtown trail, Taylor also held the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new residential village, as well as the campus’s new event space Habecker Hall. Lindsay says that it will be the biggest event space between Fort Wayne and Indianapolis.

A group of six colleges received Lily Endowment grants for quality of place plans.  Other awardees include Ball State University, Earlham College, Indiana State University, Purdue University, and Wabash College.  The total investment for all six schools is more than $145 million.

Thomas Ouellette is our reporter and producer.  Contact him at [email protected].