Launched in 2010, the Indiana Stellar Communities Program (ISCP) is a multi-year, over $58 million (investments to date) initiative operated by the Indiana Lieutenant Governor’s office and funded by three state agencies: the Indiana Housing and Community Economic Development Authority, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and the Indiana Department of Transportation. The Lieutenant Governor’s Office recognized a need for “more innovative, comprehensive development efforts in rural communities in Indiana to meet the unique local needs and make a bigger impact.” So it brought the three state agencies together to design the Indiana Stellar Communities Program.
The ISCP develops strategic community investment plans, promotes partnerships, and implements comprehensive solutions to address local challenges in Indiana’s smaller communities involving community economic development, housing, transportation, and overall quality of life. Within each ISCP designated community, a steering team of local and regional partners come together to plan and implement a variety of revitalization projects that are part of that city’s vision for its future sustainability. ISCP’s approach to comprehensive community development is unique by its attempt to improve rural communities in a way that is 1) rooted in emphasizing partnerships and collaboration among multiple public agencies and community partners and 2) focused on combining state resources to make wide-ranging quality-of-life impacts as opposed to separate, piecemeal, incremental improvements.
The ISCP develops strategic community investment plans, promotes partnerships, and implements comprehensive solutions to address local challenges in Indiana’s smaller communities involving community economic development, housing, transportation, and overall quality of life. Within each ISCP designated community, a steering team of local and regional partners come together to plan and implement a variety of revitalization projects that are part of that city’s vision for its future sustainability. ISCP’s approach to comprehensive community development is unique by its attempt to improve rural communities in a way that is 1) rooted in emphasizing partnerships and collaboration among multiple public agencies and community partners and 2) focused on combining state resources to make wide-ranging quality-of-life impacts as opposed to separate, piecemeal, incremental improvements.
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Stellar News and Developments
News Bedford to Get to Work on Stellar Project
The City of Bedford will celebrate the launch of the first Stellar project at 11 a.m. Sept. 12 with a groundbreaking ceremony at the proposed Stonecutters Place Senior Apartments, 16th and K streets. News Richmond gets $1.88 million for blight fight
City officials were beaming Thursday at the news that the city will receive $1.88 million in U.S. Treasury Department funds this year for blight elimination.Mayor Sally Hutton said this means "we can begin to clean up a lot of neighborhoods." News Marion wins $1 million grant to eliminate blighted properties
Marion has been awarded more than $1 million from the state of Indiana as a part of their Blight Elimination Program. Two counties and six cities were named as winners for the grant money. 
NEWS State Unveils Stellar Communities
Huntingburg and Wabash have been named Indiana's 2014 Stellar Communities. Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann made the announcement this morning at the Indiana State Fair. |
Thought Leadership
LINK Rural Rental Assistance Needs USDA’s Support to Survive
The cost of USDA’s Section 521 Rental Assistance program is growing every year. After a funding crisis hit the program in September, Congress increased its funding for fiscal year 2014, giving USDA time to reduce program costs, cut program spending, or work a little magic. |
Stellar Media
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