Program Aims to Aid Rural Indiana Communities
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana is now part of a federal program designed to boost rural communities. Stronger Economies Together involves building on economic assets through the creation of a regional economic development strategy. April 9, 2015
News Release
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Indiana's application to become part of the national Stronger Economies Together (SET) initiative has been approved. The program is targeted primarily to rural counties and communities in the state. Overall leadership for SET is being provided by Purdue University Extension, the Purdue Center for Regional Development and the Indiana office of USDA Rural Development.
SET is a program that enables counties and communities to develop and implement a cohesive high-quality regional economic development blueprint, one that builds on the region's major economic assets. To date, USDA Rural Development has invested about $2M to enhance the capacity-building skills of 55 regions located across 28 states. This modest investment has helped existing SET regions capture over $115M in grants, low-interest loans and other resources to support their regional plans.
SET is open to a variety of regions, such as: (1) newly formed regional groups seeking guidance on how to develop a solid regional plan; (2) existing regions wishing to re-energize their regional work; or (3) established regions that are interested in pursuing new opportunities or revisiting/refining existing plans, such as their region's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).
If you have questions about the SET program Contact the Purdue Center for Regional Development at 765-494-7273 or write to Michael Wilcox at Wilcox16@purdue.edu or Bo Beaulieu atljb@purdue.edu.
Applications are due electronically no later than May 7, 2015, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time. Please submit your application to Michael Wilcox atwilcox16@purdue.edu.
A webinar will be offered for additional information about the SET program. The details for the webinar follow. Attend the Webinar By Clicking Here or enter the meeting number and password in WebEx.
Source: The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development