INDIANAPOLIS (March 27, 2025) – The Office of  Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced three Indiana communities will receive $190,000 in Planning Grants through the Community Development Block Grant program. The communities will use the funds to develop plans for long-term comprehensive development and the implementation of utility improvement projects.

“These grants are not just an investment in infrastructure — they’re an investment in our people,” Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith said. “Local governments, in partnership with their communities, are best positioned to make decisions that impact their residents — that is why these grants are so important. They allow our towns to take charge of their future and provide the tools and resources for communities to tackle their most pressing challenges while maintaining their character and values."

The Planning Grant program encourages communities to plan for sustainable community development with the aid of subject matter experts and community input. The applications being funded this quarter address downtown revitalization and water utilities efforts.

"Congratulations to these three communities for actively planning for the futures of their residents," said OCRA Executive Director Fred Glynn. "The Planning Grant program is a vital beginning step for community development, and I look forward to seeing the progress that will be made in these towns."

Comprehensive Planning Grants are designed to aid communities in evaluating assets and identifying opportunities to address current needs in the following areas: land use, government capacity, public services, placemaking, economic development, housing, transportation, agriculture, natural resources and historic resources.

Comprehensive Planning Grants of $50,000 are awarded to two communities:

• The Town of Centerville
• The Town of Fowler

Utility Study Planning Grants provide a summary of potential issues and opportunities across drinking, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. By completing this planning, communities will be able to make decisions regarding their most urgent water needs while understanding how each system works in context with other utility systems.

A Water Infrastructure Planning Grant of $90,000 is awarded to the Town of Elnora. 

Funding for OCRA’s CDBG programs originates from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program and is administered for the State of Indiana by OCRA.

For more information, visit in.gov/ocra/cdbg/.

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Under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith, who serves as Indiana's Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs’ (OCRA) mission is to work with local, state and national partners to provide resources and technical assistance to assist communities in shaping and achieving their vision for community and economic development. For more information, visit ocra.in.gov.