Culver, LaPorte Named as Finalists in INspire IN Competition

Five Indiana Main Street organizations were recently announced as finalists for the state’s INspire Idea competition.  Two of those organizations are local! 

Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs officials say the goal of the competition is to encourage the Indiana Main Street network of communities and professionals to design creative projects to benefit their communities. 

Culver Main Street and LaPorte Economic Advancement Partnership were among the five organizations chosen. 

OCRA Executive Director Jodi Golden said the finalists are competition for one of two $5,000 grants for an imaginative downtown revitalization project.  Representatives from the five chosen organizations will present their projects during one of the sessions during the Great Lakes Main Street Conference, which is scheduled for Sunday, August 18 through Tuesday, August 20 in downtown South Bend. 

The grants require no local match, according to Golden.  She said hopes the competition leads to improved commercial vitality in rural downtown districts.