Chelsea Schneider, Innovations Content Manager, Aim
A paint-by-number mural project. Renovating a 1930s gas station into a public space. And a street art festival.
These projects and more received funding through the newest round of a state grant program that helps communities across Indiana launch small and affordable quality-of-place projects. In all, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs will release $52,000 in grants to 11 communities under its Quick Impact Placebased Grant program.
“Making small, but meaningful changes to the quality of place in our state not only brings communities together, but lets visitors know that Indiana is a welcoming place,” Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch said. “I am excited to see these grants being used in such innovative ways, and I look forward to visiting the final projects.”
This year, applicants were encouraged to involve youth in their projects. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $5,000 per project.
Batesville will create a mural in an alley near the town square. High school students will partner with an artist to develop and implement the idea. The mural will celebrate the music and arts culture in the city. Another mural project in Tell City will engage the community in creating a paint-by-number art piece on a flood wall.
Other projects include:
• Installing “skateable art” in Nashville’s new skate park, including imprinting stained leaves into concrete as a nod to the town’s popular fall foliage
• Building new community games in Richmond’s downtown park
• Renovating the exterior of a blighted gas station in Coatesville to serve as a space for community gatherings, including the town’s annual car show
• Creating a Wabash Walls street art festival in Lafayette, featuring a “paint out” where artists will paint designated areas in one of the city’s neighborhoods
“Creating a place where people want to live is a critical element to creating a sustainable, interconnected community and strong economic development strategy,” said Jodi Golden, executive director of the Office of Community and Rural Affairs. “These applicants understood how to take an underutilized asset, enhance it and further activate that space beyond just the initial project.”
For a full project list, click here.