HANCOCK COUNTY — Two Hancock County groups vying to be a designee of the Stellar Communities grant program are less than two months away from presenting their regional plans to the state.
The Mt. Comfort Corridor group, comprised of Cumberland, McCordsville and New Palestine, as well as the Health and Heritage region, a partnership between Greenfield, Fortville and Hancock County, each submitted their regional development plans to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs last week. The Hancock County groups are two of five Indiana regions named as finalists in the statewide grant program.
OCRA on Dec. 6 will announce two Stellar designees, less than a month after regional groups give presentations at the Indiana Statehouse during the week of Nov. 12. The state originally chose six finalists, but A Region Plus, consisting of Vincennes, Bicknell and Knox County, pulled out of contention last week and will reapply next year, according to the Vincennes Sun-Commercial.
Health and Heritage
Greenfield, Fortville and Hancock County’s plan focuses on preserving historic components of the region while still improving the livability and walkability of the area through trails, housing and amenities. Jenna Wertman, associate planner of the City of Greenfield, said the region has about 15 projects they want to complete over the next four to five years if awarded Stellar. Some of that includes park improvements in Greenfield, housing additions in Fortville and connections to the Pennsy Trail in the county.
Previously, the Health and Heritage region was a partnership between Greenfield and Fortville. But after region representatives realized Hancock County could use some of the Stellar grant funding, they invited the county council and board of commissioners to join the group. After a few months of negotiations, the county agreed to partner with the region’s plan a few weeks ago by signing an interlocal agreement.
Wertman said having the county on board also allows for the region to apply for grants to renovate the county-owned memorial home and could further develop collaboration between the city and county.
“It’s important for all of us to work together as we’re growing,” Wertman said. “Our county is going to grow pretty quickly and I think the better we can work together before all that happens, the better all of our plans will be as we move forward.”
Joanie Fitzwater, planning director for Greenfield, said the group is now working on preparing for the presentation in November, where they’ll show state officials a video about the regional plan created by the Daily Reporter’s advertising department. Fitzwater said while they prepare for the presentation and develop another interlocal agreement, she’s open to hearing any perspectives of the community.
“So if people have ideas, or they wonder how they can get involved, what it means for them, we’d be really happy for them to call us and entertain questions or bring us ideas,” Fitzwater said.
Mt. Comfort Corridor
The Mt. Comfort group developed their regional plan around health and technology, April Fisher said.
Fisher, town manager of Cumberland, said some of the projects included in the plan are multi-family housing in McCordsville and Cumberland, a town center in McCordsville, renovations to a historic New Palestine building and a new facility at the intersection of Buck Creek and Pennsy trails in Cumberland.
Fisher said the regional plan not only has ideas that could be used through Stellar-designated grants, but projects that the towns are working on no matter the result of the grant program, such as park improvements and a mural along a Cumberland trail.
The group is also preparing a video on the regional plan to present to OCRA in November, Fisher said. The goal of the corridor, she added, is to move the area forward as it further develops and grows.
“Development is coming, no matter if we like it or not,” Fisher said. “If we want to get ahead of it, we have to plan for it; otherwise, it doesn’t work out well.”
