Hope approved for Town Square improvements grant

The Town of Hope is being awarded $428,360 for a downtown streetscape project.

Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch along with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced that 17 rural Hoosier communities are receiving more than $10.5 million in federal grant funding. 

“These collaborations between federal, state and local partners are improving the lives of Hoosiers across the state and strengthening community pride,” Crouch said. “ I applaud this round’s local leadership for their commitment to bettering their communities, as well as their tremendous use of partnerships to address a challenge.”

According to the announcement, this Hope Town Square project will improve bighted conditions around the town square by replacing existing streetlamps, adding accessible sidewalks and making other improvements that tie the interior and exterior of the square together. 

The Hope grant comes under the  Main Street Revitalization Program. According to the announcement, it encourages communities with eligible populations to focus on long-term community development efforts. Eligible applicants have a designated active Indiana Main Street group in their community, and the project must be a part of the Main Street’s overall strategy. Main Street Revitalization Program projects include streetscapes, facade renovations and downtown infrastructure rehabilitation.

Hope's Main Street organization is headed by Susan Thayer-Fye and the grant application was completed through Trena Carter with Administrative Resources Association, the town's grant writer. The Town Council signed off on the grant application and will provide matching funds for the projects.

The state of Indiana distributes Community Development Block Grant funds to rural communities to assist units of local government with various community projects such as: infrastructure improvement, downtown revitalization, public facilities and economic development.