Starke County officials will be taking the steps necessary in becoming a stellar community.
Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem discussed the recent Regional Stellar Communities Designation program meeting with OCRA’s Northwest Indiana Community Liaison Gerry White and municipal government entities last week who outlined steps needed in order to submit a successful application to become a stellar community.
The commissioners approved action Monday night to spend $8,000 in order to complete an income survey which is the first step required before the application for a planning grant to build a five-year plan for the county. That plan will be instrumental in helping outline future projects in the county to include in the county’s Stellar application.
Norem and Commission President Don Binkley noted that even if the county doesn’t reach Stellar status, they will have a good idea of which direction to go with the five-year plan in place. Also, the county could have a better chance at getting some grants to help those projects along.
One component of the application is the agreement of three municipalities to join as a regional applicant. The commissioners have yet to hear formal confirmations from the City of Knox, Town of North Judson and the Town of Hamlet in their partcipation, but it is likely that the requirement could be met.
The commissioners voted in favor of providing a letter of intent to the Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Additionally, it was a unanimous decision to move forward in conducting an income survey in the amount of $8,000 and a planning grant in the amount of $50,000 for the five-year plan.
