CHURUBUSCO -- In Churubusco, Indiana, everything is within walking distance. The funeral home is just down the street from the bank and only a few minutes from the local antique store.
The town, with a population of about 1,800 people, is one of three state finalists for the Stellar Communities Designation Program. If chosen as the winner, the city will receive $6 million for planned community renovations.
"I really think we're on the verge of making something great," said Madalyn Sade-Bartl, Churubusco clerk-treasurer.
Sade-Bartl is also the project manager of Churubusco's Stellar Designation Program and was one of the people who spear-headed the application process, which included detailed renovation plans.
The program consists of 10 state agencies but was originated by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and Indiana Department of Transportation. Each of these three departments gives $2 million to the winning city.

(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