$45,000 goal to receive a matching grant through IHCDA’s CreatINg Places initiative

VALPARAISO, Ind. (Sept. 23, 2024) – Porter County residents will soon have a new hub for the arts if this crowdfunding campaign reaches its goal of raising $45,000 by Nov. 22, 2024. If successful, the project led by the Valparaiso Creative Council will receive a matching grant as part of IHCDA’s CreatINg Places program. 

"The transformation of this space in Valparaiso has tremendous upsides for artists and community members alike," said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana's Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. "This campaign highlights the city's dynamic vision, and the project will become a catalyst for art and culture in Porter County."

Funds from this campaign will be used to revitalize a vacant building into a creative center, providing rental spaces for artists and accessible programming for the community.

"We are so excited to utilize this phenomenal funding opportunity to help catapult our organization into a location all our own," said Jessica Corral, executive director of the Valparaiso Creative Council. "The building will provide spaces for artists and will encourage the community to create as well. Our mission is to be the creative bridge between artists and residents and the Valpo Creates Center will aim to be exactly that."

Since the CreatINg Places program began in 2016, projects have raised more than $11.3 million in public funds and an additional $9.6 million in matching IHCDA funds. The program is available to projects located in Indiana communities. Non-profit entities (with 501c3 or 501c4 status) and local units of government are eligible to apply. Eligible projects must have a minimum total development cost of $10,000, where the recipient will receive $5,000 in IHCDA matching funds should it successfully raise $5,000 through Patronicity. IHCDA will provide matching grant funds up to $50,000 per project.