Program Goal: Foster Regional Investments
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An objective of the ISCP is to emphasize those comprehensive community development initiatives that foster not only long-term local investments, but also overall regional investments. These investments should build on state and other investments.
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Strategic Layering of Resources Produces Positive Impacts
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The strategic layering of community capital has a comprehensive impact in neighborhood improvement efforts. By strategically layering foundation, private, and public resources in targeted areas, the designated communities allowed for the creation of broader community impacts as well as private market forces to re-activate and take over. The layering of resources also strengthens and builds relationships within the community, which creates vitality by building trust and encouraging nontraditional collaborations.
To date, there are both tangible and intangible local and regional impacts. As of December 2013, over $70 million has been budgeted for Stellar project improvements. Of the estimated budgets, approximately $56 million in total state funding sources and $15 million in total local investments (including city local matches, private/corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants/fundraising efforts) have been invested. |
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Communities Research Estimated Investments date December 2013.
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In Greencastle, DePauw University contributed more than $2 million towards Greencastle’s revitalization efforts. The estimated total investment city-wide during Stellar is $160 million and $4.8 million in the Stellar target area. In North Vernon, downtown businesses have provided $37,500 as a match to their facade improvements. Overall private investments during Stellar citywide average $14.8 million and $3.1 million in the Stellar target area. In Delphi, the Delphi Preservation Society committed to contributing $1.5 million in the form of a capital campaign toward the Opera House restoration in Delphi. Overall private investments during Stellar citywide average $8 million and $1.9 million in the Stellar target area. In Princeton, the Toyota Motor Company provided over $1 million in funding towards Stellar-initiated projects, and OnSite OHS has invested approximately half a million. These investments, coupled with other investments from local and regional stakeholders, such as the Gibson County Chamber of Commerce, Gibson County Visitor and Tourism Bureau, Old National Bank, Vectren Corporation, and Duke Energy, helped efforts in downtown revitalization (including the redevelopment of the theater) and housing improvements. Overall private investments during Stellar citywide average $409 million and $1.6 million in the Stellar target area. Investment data from the four cases indicates varying outcomes in public and private investment before and during Stellar. In Greencastle both city public and private investment increased substantially between the period prior to Stellar and the period during program planning and implementation both in the city’s Stellar target area and overall city-wide. For example, annual city investments have increased significantly both in the city target area as well as city-wide (+23% and +6.5% respectively). In addition, these same areas have also experienced substantial private investments (+900% and over) since 2010. The program had also prompted additional investment from community stakeholders. For instance, DePauw University contributed nearly $3 million toward campus area and Anderson Street neighborhood improvements and over $26 million city-wide. In addition, other Greencastle industrial and commercial companies invested over $120 million in private investments. There are also recent housing investments citywide of over $6 million. 
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In North Vernon annual city public investments have decreased citywide 55% while they have increased by 5% in the Stellar target areas. In comparison, annual private investment increased substantially between the period prior to Stellar and the period during program planning and implementation overall city-wide (+1000%). Private investments in the Stellar target area increased by 3.2% during Stellar.
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In Delphi both city public and private investment increased substantially between the period prior to Stellar and the period during program planning and implementation both in the city’s Stellar target area and overall city-wide. For example, annual city investments have increased significantly both in the city target area as well as city-wide (+88.7% and +27.8% respectively). In addition, these same areas have also experienced substantial private investments (+200% and over) since 2011. Moreover, the program had also prompted additional investment from community stakeholders. For instance, Delphi Preservation Society contributed over $1 million towards Opera House renovations.
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In Princeton private investment increased substantially between the period prior to Stellar and the period during program planning and implementation both in the city’s Stellar target area and overall city-wide (+1000 in both areas).
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Heightened the Level of Recognition Regionally. Other evidence of local and regional impacts is a heightened level of recognition from Stellar. Respondents noted an increase in awareness and interest about their cities as a result of Stellar designation. For example, respondents in all four cities stated a rise in interest from potential business owners, visitors, and other surrounding cities and towns. Respondents indicated that as a result of Stellar, “people are talking more about what will work and attract people” and that because of Stellar they are receiving more attention from larger cities throughout the state.
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Program Goal: Improve Quality of Life Through Comprehensive and Transformative Investments
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Another goal of the ISCP approach is to empower rural communities to implement comprehensive development in a way that will be transformative to the community. Each of the four communities identified both tangible and intangible evidence of improvements to quality of life and transformative investments.
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Encouraged Business and Population Retention and Attraction
Data show Stellar activity is a catalyst for economic growth for communities by providing the designated communities the initial capital for investment and development. Respondents indicated that Stellar created a window of opportunity for increased business and population attraction and retention. In all four communities, respondents indicated that Stellar created a window of opportunity for increased business and population attraction and retention. Overall, respondents stated that the program added value by providing a mechanism for consolidation of resources in a single community in an accelerated period of time. Respondents noted the Stellar program has created a renewed sense of pride. “…But the improvement that Stellar had provided there is immeasurable. It’s incredible.” “…Winning Stellar really was a boost in pride for the community. You still small improvements where property owners are taking a little more pride in their home or in their business.” “…That feeling of pride. For all the people, who live here. Not just the county, but the region.” Turning Piecemeal Ideas into Transformative Investments Overall, respondents stated that the program added value by providing a mechanism for consolidation of resources in a single community in an accelerated period of time. For some communities, this was viewed as the difference between the continued “life or death” of their community. According to respondents, providing a large sum of funding to one community in a short timeframe allowed an economic boost in the local economy. This boost permitted a shift in communities, thereby creating a turning point of decline to incline.
Increase Community “Self-Worth” Due to the decline in communities, businesses and residents began to become disenchanted with their cities. Respondents in all four cities noted the Stellar program has created a renewed sense of pride, hope, and commitment in communities by its “see-touch-feel” factor. “Now Stellar concentrates the see, feel, and touch factor. People get excited about the town and then they have hope and then they open up their hearts to feel love for the town again.” “When I can walk through the job sites people see something happening. I feel pretty prideful.” |
Program Goal: Encourage Sustainability and Capacity Building
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The program pursues comprehensive planning and development initiatives that are not only “do-able,” realistic, and replicable, but those which also have the capacity to leverage additional community capital.
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In all four communities, respondents identified the program as a mechanism to leverage opportunities and obtain other investments and increased community capacity to complete a large amount of projects in a short time span through the development of partnerships.
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Program Goal: Highlight Effective and Strong Civic Leadership and Community Support
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The ISCP approach calls for demonstration of strong leadership capacity that is capable of coordinating and managing a multi-year, multi-project program. In addition, it seeks to illustrate and build long-term partnerships among civic, community, and private stakeholders as well as between rural communities and the lead state organizations.
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