(INDIANAPOLIS) - Today, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch announced the six communities who are the Division 1 and Division 2 finalists for the 2017 Stellar Communities Designation Program (SCDP).
Established in 2011, the SCDP began as a collaboration between the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Office of Community and Rural Affairs, and Indiana Department of Transportation to support community planning and development initiatives by streamlining access to available funding sources and capacity building resources. Through the annual designation, Stellar Communities provides resources for transformative quality of place community improvements by utilizing previous planning efforts, leveraging existing assets, fostering regional investments, and stimulating continued growth for long-term relevance.

Churubusco has been named one of six finalists for the 2017 Stellar Communities Designation Program (SCDP), Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch announced Thursday.
Churubusco was among three finalists in the Division 2 category for communities with population of 5,999 or fewer people, a state news release said. Division 1 includes communities with population of 6,000 to 50,000 people.

INDIANAPOLIS - The six finalists for this year's Stellar Communities Designation Program have been announced. The selected cities and towns will present new or updated strategic investment plans to a team of leaders from state-connected agencies who will help choose two winners that will be named later this summer. Recipients will be eligible to more direct access to funding and state resources.
The program works with selected cities and towns to support what the state calls "transformative quality of place community

(BEDFORD) - Mayor Shawna Girgis joined state officials in cutting the ribbon on Bedford's Downtown Depot, a project funded through Indiana's Stellar Communities Program.
Previously called the Southern Indiana Railroad Station, the historic, limestone station was physically moved four blocks to its new home at 14th and J streets. The Downtown Depot will serve as Bedford's community and tourism information center.

The City of Bedford held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their renovated Downtown Depot Thursday.
The building used to be known as the Southern Indiana Railroad Station before it underwent a $2.7 million dollar relocation and restoration. The Depot was moved four blocks to its current location on the intersection of 14th and J streets in Bedford.