OCRA Toasts Communities, Individuals

Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann led an awards ceremony Monday at the Statehouse.

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs has honored cities and towns throughout the state that have partnered with the agency this year. During the 2015 Awards Ceremony and 10th Anniversary Celebration, Lieutenant Governor Ellspermann recognized more than 100 communities and individuals. Awards categories include Main Street Business of the Year, Excellence in Economic Development and Volunteer of the Year.

Ellspermann said "it is important to determine where we want our state to be in the future. Part of that vision must be a renewal of rural Indiana communities as great places for businesses to locate and Hoosiers to live, work and raise a family. OCRA has the unique opportunity and tools to impact rural Indiana and assure that our great success stories reach the small towns and rural communities throughout the state."

The agency was established in 2005 under the leadership of then-Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman. It provides resources and technical assistance by partnering with local, state and national organizations. Officials attending Monday’s ceremony at the Statehouse included state legislators, mayors, local elected officials, grant administrators, community development organizations, community partners and businesses.

The honorees are:

Indiana Main Street Individual Awards

• The Electric Brew – Main Street Business of the Year
• Downtown Goshen – Main Street Business of the Year
• The Upstairs Housing Grant Program – Excellence in Economic Development
• Noblesville Main Street – Downtown Special Event
• City of Decatur – Design of Downtown Public Improvement
• Ann Finchum – Main Street Volunteer of the Year
• Soni and Mike Birch – Main Street Volunteer of the Year
• Dawn Brown – Main Street Volunteer of the Year
• Cindy Chambers – Main Street Volunteer of the Year
• Jay Ellis – Staff Member of the Year
• New Palestine’s Blue Star Banner Program – Community Impact Award
• New Palestine Main Street and the Town of New Palestine – Community Impact Award
• Jeffersonville’s Monumental Memories Project – Community Impact Award
• Jeffersonville Main Street – Community Impact Award

Grantees by Community

• City of Auburn – Hometown Collaboration Initiative
• Orange County – Hometown Collaboration Initiative
• Spencer County – Hometown Collaboration Initiative
• Vermillion County – Hometown Collaboration Initiative
• City of Greenwood – Main Street Revitalization Program
• Town of Fountain City – Place Based Investment Fund
• City of Greenfield – Place Based Investment Fund
• City of Lafayette Economic Development Department – Place Based Investment Fund
• Town of Orleans – Place Based Investment Fund
• Town of Winona Lake – Place Based Investment Fund
• City of Washington – Place Based Investment Fund
• Main Street Corydon – Place Based Investment Fund
• Town of North Manchester – Place Based Investment Fund
• City of Rushville – Place Based Investment Fund
• The Wesselman Nature Society – Place Based Investment Fund
• City of Peru – Place Based Investment Fund
• Town of Oxford – Public Facilities Program
• Town of Versailles – Public Facilities Program
• Daviess County – Public Facilities Program
• Town of Edinburgh – Public Facilities Program
• Gas City – Public Facilities Program
• City of Greencastle – Public Facilities Program
• LaGrange County – Public Facilities Program
• Town of Orleans – Public Facilities Program
• Redkey – Public Facilities Program
• City of Rushville – Public Facilities Program
• Town of Mulberry – Stormwater Improvement Program
• City of Martinsville – Stormwater Improvement Program
• Town of Crane – Stormwater Improvement Program
• Town of Elizabethtown – Stormwater Improvement Program
• City of Clinton – Stormwater Improvement Program
• Town of Speedway – Stormwater Improvement Program
• City of Southport – Stormwater Improvement Program
• Morgantown – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Middletown – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Waynetown – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Farmland – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Vigo County – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Town of Dana – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• North Webster – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Knightsville – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Town of Brooklyn – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Town of Odon – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Edwardsport – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Roachdale – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Town of Monterey – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Rosedale – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Town of Morocco – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Francesville – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Town of Paoli – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Grandview – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Town of Hope – Wastewater and Drinking Water Program
• Grant County – Workforce Development Program
• Knox County – Workforce Development Program
• Martin County – Workforce Development Program
• Steuben County – Workforce Development Program
• Tell City – Workforce Development Program
• Whitley County – Workforce Development Program
• Town of Boswell – Blight Clearance Program
• Crawford County – Blight Clearance Program
• Town of Goodland – Blight Clearance Program
• Jay County – Blight Clearance Program
• Town of Shelburn – Blight Clearance Program
• Spencer County – Blight Clearance Program
• Town of Van Buren – Blight Clearance Program
• Town of Veedersburg – Blight Clearance Program

Celebrated in Print Only

• City of Auburn (ADAC, Inc.) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• Town of Avilla (ReStore Avilla) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• City of Bluffton (Bluffton NOW) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• Town of Cambridge City (Cambridge City Main Street) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• Town of Cicero (Our Town Cicero) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• City of Clinton (Rediscover Clinton) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• Town of Corydon (Main Street Corydon) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• City of Gas City (Gas City Main Street) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• Town of Georgetown (Georgetown Main Street) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• Town of Hope (Main Street of Hope) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• City of Kendallville (Experience the Heart of Kendallville) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• Town of Knightstown (Knightstown Main Street) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• City of Monticello (Streets of Monticello Association) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• Town of Mooresville (Celebrate Mooresville) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• Town of Roachdale (Roachdale Revitalization Cooperation) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• Town of Shirley (Shirley Community Visionaries) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• Town of Spencer (Spencer Main Street) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• City of Tipton (Tipton Main Street) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• City of Vincennes (INVin) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• City of Plymouth (Discover Plymouth) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• City of Labanon (The Heart of Lebanon) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• Town of Middlebury (Middlebury Town Center) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• Town of Bargersville (Bargersville Main Street) – Indiana Main Street New Community
• City of Clinton – Planning Grant
• Rising Sun – Planning Grant
• Rising Sun – Planning Grant
• Sullivan County – Planning Grant
• Town of Pendleton – Planning Grant
• Town of Sheridan – Planning Grant
• Town of Corydon – Planning Grant
• City of Rochester – Planning Grant
• New Ross – Planning Grant
• Town of Camden – Planning Grant
• Orange County – Planning Grant
• City of Attica – Planning Grant
• Town of Somerville – Planning Grant
• Town of Cicero (Our Town Cicero) – Planning Grant
• Town of Wolcott – Indiana Shovel Ready
• Knox County – Indiana Shovel Ready
• City of Shelbyville- Indiana Shovel Ready