Community Development
Indiana offers program funding for areas that unite communities and positively impact the quality of life.
From management of natural resources to community spaces and infrastructures, grants are available to support development.
The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs administers the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to help rural communities with a variety of projects such as sewer and water systems, community centers, health and safety programs, and many others. These funds help communities improve their quality of life and ensure the health and safety of their citizens. The SIRPC Region has obtained a high number of CDBG grants that have funded many infrastructure development projects.
Due to high demand, this funding is very competitive. SIRPC staff works closely with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) on behalf of our communities that need grant assistance. Our Certified Grant Administrators help communities by overseeing the development of projects so that a competitive grant application can be submitted, funded, and administered in a timely and efficient manner. Please contact Mary McCarty for more information: Mary.mccarty@sirpc.org.
Water/Wastewater Improvement
The goal of the Water/Wastewater Improvement Program is to protect the health and environment, reduce utility rates for low-to-moderate-income communities, and improve rural infrastructure to enable long-term economic growth.
Stormwater Improvement
Property owners in many communities across the state of Indiana suffer from flooded property and sewer backups due to inadequate stormwater management. Flooding is expensive to clean up, depresses property values, and degrades water quality. The goals of the Stormwater Improvements Program are to:
- Reduce flooding
- Cut stormwater treatment and energy costs
- Protect rivers, lakes and vital landscape
- Generate jobs and spur economic revitalization
Public Facilities Program
The goal of the Public Facilities Program is to Improve quality of place, generate jobs and spur economic revitalization.Examples of eligible projects include:
- Removal of architectural barriers for ADA accessibility
- Community centers
- Daycare centers
- Facilities for special needs groups
- Fire/EMS stations
- Healthcare centers
- Historic preservation
- Learning centers
- Libraries
- Senior centers
- Youth centers
Main Street Revitalization
The goal of the (MSRP) is to encourage communities with eligible populations to focus on long-term community development within the downtown area. This program will work in conjunction with the Indiana Main Street Program and the overall goals and strategies for the Main Street revitalization efforts.
Blight Clearance Program
The Blight Clearance Program encourages communities with blighted properties to focus on long-term community development and revitalization through improving quality of place, generating jobs, and spurring economic revitalization. Eligible projects include the removal of deteriorated or abandoned downtown buildings or vacant/unusable industrial sites.
Planning Grants
The goal of the program is to encourage communities to plan for long-term community development. Examples of eligible Planning Grants include:
- Broadband Readiness Plan
- Comprehensive Plan
- Downtown Revitalization Plan
- Economic Development Plan
- Environmental Assessment
- Historic Preservation Plan
- Public Facilities Feasibility Study
- Water Infrastructure Plan
Seeking assistance with a new initiative or project? We would love to hear about it.