Local communities can apply for state funding to make better gathering spaces. The state’s launching a third round of Place Based Investment Funds.
Communities can apply for $20,000 to $50,000 in competitive grants for projects designed to attract visitors and improve quality of life for residents. These could be things like amphitheaters, plazas, and sports facilities, based on previous rounds of the program. But state officials encourage communities to be creative when coming up with new projects.
Projects should build on a community’s existing assets and involve a partnership between at least two organizations. These may be community foundations, convention and visitor bureaus, economic development organizations, Indiana Main Street organizations, local governments, and schools.
The Place Based Investment Fund program is run by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and the Indiana Office of Tourism Development. Applications are due by Friday, July 14. Winning projects will be announced August 3.
Locally, the Community Foundation of Pulaski County is running a similar program of its own. The Love Your Community initiative offers Pulaski County towns up to $10,000 for placemaking projects. In Winamac, that will involve building restrooms on the former Long Branch property. Town officials hope the project will attract more events to the downtown area and encourage more people to use the Winamac Parkway.
