GREENFIELD — The county’s tourism commission is adding to the ante in the county’s bid to win a lucrative grant competition.
The Hancock County Tourism Commission voted unanimously this week to pledge $25,000 a year for four years to the Health and Heritage Region, a finalist in the state Stellar Communities grant program. The group includes Fortville, Greenfield and Hancock County and focuses on preserving historic components of the region while still improving the livability and walkability of the area through trails, housing and other amenities.
The money from the tourism commission will go toward a local match required to receive the Stellar Communities grant, officials said.
If the Health and Heritage Region is selected, the region aims to complete about 15 projects in the next four to five years, said Jenna Wertman, associate planner for the city of Greenfield. Those include park improvements in Greenfield, housing additions in Fortville and connections to the Pennsy Trail throughout the county, an effort for which the tourism commission has already shown support.
McCordsville, Cumberland and New Palestine also have a joint campaign in the Stellar Communities sweepstakes. It focuses on improvements along the Mt. Comfort Road corridor.
City planner Joanie Fitzwater said the Health and Heritage Region has already secured pledges from a variety of public and private sources, including Hancock Regional Hospital, the city of Greenfield and the town of Fortville. She said it would be helpful during the presentation to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, which was held Wednesday, to be able to tout the support of the tourism commission as well as the other funding already secured.
Adam Zaklikowski, Fortville planning administrator, said the regional plan will work to preserve the small-town feel of the western Hancock County town while also creating amenities that will draw more people to live in the area, including attractive housing.
Tourism commission member Earl Smith, who works with a farmer’s market that meets weekly in Fortville, said he hopes additional parking spaces are on the town’s radar as well.
Fitzwater suggested the commission could determine its portion of the funding could be allocated toward marketing efforts, including short video advertisements shown at movie theaters.
The grant is contingent on the Health and Heritage Region being selected in the Stellar Communities competition. Being selected as a Stellar Community is a lucrative proposition: The designation unlocks access to millions of dollars in grants that can be used for improvement projects. Previous winners have seen large infusions of money into their communities.
Winners in the competition are expected to be announced soon.
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Launched in 2011, the Stellar Communities program is designed to recognize smaller communities and regions that identify comprehensive plans for community and economic development. Winners become eligible for a portfolio of grants to help put improvement projects within financial reach.
To date, more than 70 communities have participated in the process; 14 have received the Stellar Communities Designation.
Past winners have used their grant funds for everything from cycling and walking trails to underwriting renovation of historic buildings for new uses.
Source: Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs
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