INDIANAPOLIS (March 19, 2024) – Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced three Indiana communities will receive $210,000 in planning grants through the Community Development Block Grant program. The communities will use the funds to develop plans for the implementation of long-term community and economic development projects as well as utility improvement projects.

“The best way to improve Indiana as a whole is by investing in and improving our local communities,” said Lt. Gov. Crouch, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “I am thrilled for these three communities and the improvements they will be able to explore through this funding.”

The Planning Grant program encourages communities to plan for long-term community development with the aid of subject matter experts and community input. The applications being funded this quarter address water utilities and comprehensive planning efforts.

"Long-term development in our Hoosier communities is important for the future success of our state," said OCRA Executive Director Duke Bennett. "Planning Grants give our communities the opportunity to lay a solid foundation and set goals that improve the quality of life for their residents. Congratulations to the three communities receiving this funding, I look forward to seeing your developments come to fruition."   

Water Infrastructure Grants allow communities to complete a holistic study of potential issues and opportunities across their 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.

Water Infrastructure Planning Grants are awarded to two communities:

• The Town of Mooreland is awarded $60,000.
• The Town of Versailles is awarded $90,000.

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, broadband access and historic resources.

A Comprehensive Planning Grants is awarded to one community:

• Grant County is awarded $60,000.

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 Suzanne Crouch, 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.