Stellar Communities Designation Program Widens Scope to Encourage Regional Collaboration

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Once geared toward individual towns and cities, the Stellar Community Designation Program will now be asking communities to come together to propose regional development plans.

The Stellar Community program, which is offered through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, will now focus on encouraging towns, cities and counties to form partnerships to develop comprehensive solutions to regional and local challenges throughout rural Indiana.

“We believe that it is extremely important that communities work together and that we utilize and combine resources.” Continue reading →

Indiana’s Lieutenant Governor is Visiting the SCILL Lab at Knox Middle School Today

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Indiana Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch will be making a stop in Starke County today.

This afternoon, Crouch will be visiting the SCILL Automation, Robotics and Equipment Maintenance Lab at Knox Middle School. Knox Mayor Dennis Estok will also be in attendance.

According to Communication Specialist Jessica Baker, the lab is the result of a grant received from The Office of Community and Rural Affairs, which is overseen by Lieutenant Governor Crouch. Baker explained that the OCRA grant was for $250,000 with a match of $118,277. Continue reading →

Knox City Council Approves Grant Administrator Agreement with KIRPC

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Knox City Council members considered a grant administrator agreement with Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission on Tuesday night. KIRPC representative Shawn Cain told the council that the agreement would be to assist the city with the OCRA grant they recently received for the Knox Parks 5-Year Master Plan.

Cain said the agreement would allow KIRPC reps to assist the clerk-treasurer with reports and claims and they’d also be available to answer any questions that the council members may have in the future. Cain added that there is a $2,000 charge for their services. Continue reading →

Winamac Town Council to Hold Public Hearing Over OCRA Grant Tonight, Regular Meeting Scheduled for Afterwards

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The Winamac Town Council will hold a public hearing to discuss the OCRA Grant Application for the Wastewater project. It will be held at 6 p.m. with their regular meeting rescheduled to take place immediately after the hearing adjourns.

The OCRA Grant that is up for discussion is a competitive grant worth $700,000 that will help cover costs of the proposed upgrades to the Wastewater treatment plant. In order to be eligible for the funding, the application will need to be submitted by February 9th. Continue reading →

City of Knox Receives a $20,000 Planning Grant

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Mayor Dennis Estok told Knox City Council members last week that the city is the recipient of a grant worth $20,000.

The city received the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and according to the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, the planning grant is funded with money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. OCRA says the goal of the program is to encourage communities to plan for long-term community development.

Mayor Estok said that CDBG funds will be spent to cover the cost of services being provided by the Troyer Group, the architecture and planning firm assisting city officials with the construction of the Knox Parks 5-Year Master Plan. Continue reading →

North Judson Residents Encouraged to Help Secure Competitive Grant for Water System Improvements

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

A public hearing was held over a $550,000 OCRA wastewater/drinking water grant during last week’s North Judson Town Council meeting.

Executive Director of Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission Edwin Buswell provided some information about the proposed Office of Community and Rural Affairs grant, explaining that it will be utilized for various water system improvements. He said the local match of $1,268,000 would come from the state revolving loan fund.

One individual asked about the potential impact this could have on taxes. Buswell replied that he believes the rate increase that was implemented earlier this year would cover the cost and no additional increases will be necessary. Continue reading →

Winamac Town Council Holds First Reading Over Water Rate Adjustment Ordinance

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The Winamac Town Council held the first reading over a proposed Water Rate Adjustment Ordinance when they met Monday night. Town Attorney Justin Schramm mentioned that Eric Walsh with Umbaugh and Associates put the ordinance together.

The proposed changes are being considered to help cover costs of the Town’s water project which is anticipated to cost approximately $1.5 million. Some additional funds for the project will come from a grant recently received from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

A public hearing is scheduled for December 11th, prior to the regularly scheduled meeting. During the regular meeting, members will hold the adoption proceedings over the ordinance. Continue reading →

North Judson Town Council Receives Updates About Water System Improvement Project

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The potential of a supplemental round of grant funding being offered through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs could provide more financial assistance for proposed projects in the Town of North Judson. Vince Sommers of Common Wealth Engineers came before the North Judson Town Council members to fill them in on the process so far and to alert them of the potential supplemental round of grant funding.

The town is pursuing SRF Drinking Water Funds for their water system improvement project. Sommers said that any time federal money is utilized an environmental impact report must be conducted. The State Revolving Fund reviewed the preliminary engineering report for the water system improvements and instructed the organization who helped secure the grant, Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission (KIRPC), to advertise a finding of no significant impact. Continue reading →

Knox Council Weighs Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Financing Options

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox Wastewater Treatment PlantThe City of Knox has a few options to pay for upgrades to their aging wastewater treatment plant.

One involves applying for a $600,000 grant from the state Office of Community and Rural Affairs, which requires a $1.3 million local match. The second option is a combination grant and loan from the U.S.D.A. Rural Development program. Engineer Chirag  Patel with Jones Petrie Rafinski told the city council the project must be formally submitted in order to receive consideration for a 45 percent U.S.D.A. grant. Continue reading →

Knox Council to Conduct Hearing on Grant Application

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox Wastewater Treatment PlantThe Knox City Council will conduct a public hearing on a proposed grant application at the start of their meeting tonight. The city is applying for a $600,000 community development block grant from the state Office of Community and Rural Affairs to pay for upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant. Much of the infrastructure there is more than 20 years old. The grant carries an anticipated local match of $1.3 million. Continue reading →

Lieutenant Governor Lauds Regional Cities Initiative

Posted on Author WKVI
Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb
Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb

Indiana’s new lieutenant governor says the Regional Cities Initiative will pay dividends beyond the counties that are part of the coalition. Eric Holcomb has been on the job for two weeks, following Sue Ellsperman’s resignation. He spoke yesterday in LaPorte at one of four regional Office of Community and Rural Affairs symposium. He says the three grants will pay dividends beyond the participating counties by investing in quality of place. Continue reading →

Knox City Council Approves Resolution for Proposed Water Project

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox City Council approved a resolution to apply for a $350,000 grant from the state Office of Community and Rural Affairs for a proposed water project. The city has earmarked a 25 percent match of $87,500 for the project. It could include the replacement of water lines around brown circle on Delamatyr, Fisher and Adam. The other part of the project would extend lines to Mound Street and Myrtle Court. Washington Street and Allen Drive would also be involved. The project may also include an extension of lines from Williams Street to John Street.

Continue reading →

Knox Public Hearing Held for Proposed Grant Application for Water Line Upgrades

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox City Council held a public hearing Monday night to gather opinions on a proposed grant application for a water line project this summer.

K-IPRC Executive Director Edwin Buswell said the City of Knox will be applying for an Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) grant in the amount of $350,000 for the project. The local match will be 20 percent or $70,000.

Mayor Rick Chambers explained that Water Superintendent Todd Gardner and the engineers are looking to improve water flow in areas of the city.

Continue reading →

Town of Monterey Looking to Build Wastewater Plant

Posted on Author WKVI

Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
The town of Monterey is looking to undertake a massive project through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, and they’ve asked Pulaski County to kick some funds their way to help in the endeavor. According to Nathan Origer, executive director of the Pulaski County Community Development Commission, the town has announced plans to apply for a grant to allow them to construct a wastewater plant at a cost of roughly $200,000.

Continue reading →