Building & Nurturing
Quality Communities
Livability is a major priority as cities and towns navigate a new economy. Growing and sustaining populations, especially in rural Indiana, means cities and towns can no longer rely on traditional economic development strategies alone. Equally important is building and supporting a dynamic “sense of place.” It’s that one-of-a-kind art piece you walk past while shopping and dining in a lively downtown. It’s organic gathering spots, coworking spaces and unique festivals. It’s where cutting-edge technology meets a Saturday stroll at the farmers market. Indiana’s cities and towns are embracing new strategies to focus on the hearts of their communities. Because for Hoosiers, it’s all about cultivating the places we call home.
Our Latest Successes
“Without TIF, we wouldn’t have had the impact Stellar had. It touched housing, downtown redevelopment, improvements to the industrial park. There was no element of Stellar that TIF didn’t impact.” – Huntingburg Mayor Denny Spinner
In 2014, when Huntingburg was designated a Stellar Community, the recognition infused state funding into the city for transformational projects. But before the city could access those dollars, Huntingburg leaders had to come up with local funding to serve as a match to the state’s investment. They turned to tax-increment financing as a primary source for that local support. Read More >>
“The strategic use of TIF paired with private sector donations – it has spurred more private investment, more small businesses opening and existing small businesses having more support and that’s the idea of this. Strategic public investment paired with private partnerships will synergize more growth, more viability, more sustainability in Downtown Frankfort to ultimately make our city a better place to live.” – Frankfort Mayor Chris McBarnes
Frankfort is undergoing a major transformation of its downtown to expand housing and create a new urban park, with the hopes of catalyzing additional private investment into the community. The projects respond to a major goal. Frankfort – like most rural communities in Indiana – is working to attract more young people, families and professionals to plant roots in the city. And Frankfort Mayor Chris McBarnes and community leaders are moving ahead with projects like Nickel Plate Flats, which will bring 73 new market-rate apartments to the city’s downtown, and Prairie Creek Park, as a way to meet that goal. Read More >>
“It’s taking what a lot of coworking space is doing and putting it on steroids. The benefit is to try to stimulate business, and the goal there is to create all these spinoffs and create an environment that attracts innovative ideas.” – Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton
A historic building in downtown Crawfordsville is being transformed into a one-of-a-kind entrepreneurial hub called Fusion 54. The concept of Fusion 54 is to bring together as many growth entities in Crawfordsville as possible to “create unmatched levels of synergy and cooperation,” Mayor Todd Barton said. The four-story building will include the visitor’s center, coworking and accelerator space and offices for economic development organizations, such as Crawfordsville Chamber of Commerce, Crawfordsville Main Street and volunteer center. Read More >>
“Economic growth is critical to Greenwood’s long-term sustainability, and we’re working every day to facilitate and drive opportunities.” – Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers
Greenwood serves as an example of how tax-increment finance (TIF) districts – when properly executed and managed – provide a significant advantage to local communities. Local governments create TIF districts to facilitate growth in a specific area. Once established, TIF funds come from the difference in property tax dollars generated by increased economic activity in the district. Read More >>
“We are making a direct investment in our future, and we hope that those students don’t just grow up in Clarksville but stay in Clarksville and become tomorrow’s leaders.” – Redevelopment Commission President A.D. Stonecipher
An innovative school and new technology for students. The revitalization of a key street to establish a downtown area. New trail segments to connect thousands of more households directly to recreational opportunities. Those are ways the town of Clarksville is benefiting from the local economic development tool of tax-increment financing. Read More >>
Our Big Ideas
“When you talk about what it is that makes a community livable and desirable, I think being attractive is a first step.”
“The idea of the park is just a space to hang out. We know that sense of place is important. It is west of the river, west of our downtown, and our effort is to extend in people’s minds as well as physically Noblesville to the west side of the river and make that part of downtown.”
“We are just trying to draw people into our downtown and encourage more people to come to downtown. The park was a big part of it. That drew a lot of people in, and it’s had a wonderful response.”
– Daleville Clerk-Treasurer Amy Roberts on new park featuring a splash pad