(Indianapolis, IN) – Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) has announced four regions as finalists for the 2024 Stellar Pathways program.
One Dearborn County Stellar Pathways for Indiana Gateways is one of the finalists. The region is made up of the Dearborn County Economic Development Corporation, Dearborn County, the Town of Dillsboro and the City of Greendale.
Stellar Pathways’ partner agencies received 19 letters of interest from across the state.
OCRA says the four finalists were chosen for demonstrating the ability to collaborate, effectively communicate, implement projects, engage the community, address challenges and secure additional funding.
“The Stellar Pathways program empowers communities to invest in transformative improvements, and these four regions have displayed the vision required of a Stellar project,” said Lt. Gov. Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “All four of these teams have not only understood, but embraced the challenge of collaboration which is an important foundation for improving quality of life for Hoosiers in their communities.”
As finalists, each region will receive $50,000 to put towards the development of its final strategic investment plan. Each region will also receive a customized one-day workshop with Ball State University’s Indiana Communities Institute on August 12 to discuss project alignment and continued planning efforts.
“This was a very competitive review process, and it is evident these four regions worked hard to earn the Stellar Pathways finalist designation,” said OCRA Executive Director Duke Bennett. “I look forward to seeing the impact the Stellar Pathways process will have on these communities.”
The Stellar Pathways program provides resources for transformative quality of place improvements by applying previous planning efforts, leveraging existing assets, fostering regional investments and stimulating continued growth.
OCRA’s Stellar Pathways partner agencies include the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana Department of Health, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana Destination Development Corporation and Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
For more information, visit in.gov/ocra/stellar/.
