Lt. Governor Becky Skillman Secretary of Rural Development Joe Pearson, Director ORA

1. American Council of Engineering Companies of IndianaEnvironmental Business ConferenceSeptember 15, 2005 Lt. Governor Becky Skillman Secretary of Rural Development Joe Pearson, Director ORA Indiana Office of Rural Affairs “Serving Indiana’s rural communities through technical, financial and personal assistance”

2. “With 75% of Indiana’s counties designated as ‘rural,’ we must cater to the needs of these communities and offer any assistance possible to promote successful and sustainable rural Indiana communities.” Lt. Governor Becky Skillman Secretary of Rural Development Joe Pearson, Director ORA

3. Office of Rural AffairsAgency Commitment To assist Indiana’s small cities, towns and rural counties in addressing economic and social needs by working with local, state and national partners to provide technical, financial and personal assistance. Lt. Governor Becky Skillman Secretary of Rural Development Joe Pearson, Director ORA

4. Keys to SuccessfulRural Communities • Planning • Regional and Local Partnerships • Public Participation at all levels • Community Priorities • Promoting Livable Communities

5. Livable Communities… • actively and successfully serve the needs of their citizens; • effectively connect people and places; • preserve, build upon and invest in their economic, environmental and human assets; and • plan and prepare for the future and form partnerships between the business, civic, government and not-for-profit sectors of the community.

6. Community Development Block Grant Program Provide small cities, towns and counties (pop. 50,000 or less) with federal funds for community improvement projects. Greg Beumer, Director

7. Community Development Block Grant Programs • 2005- $37 million to Indiana • Since 1982, Indiana has assisted 537 different communities with a total of $704 million • Grant Administrator Training Greg Beumer, Director Winchester, IN

8. Community Focus Fund Planning Grant • Eligible planning activities include data gathering, study, analysis and preparation of plans and the identification of actions to implement such plans • $1.5 Million available annually • Applications accepted on a monthly basis Greg Beumer, Director Elberfeld, IN

9. Community Focus Fund (CFF) Infrastructure Projects include: • Community Facilities • Fire Protection Projects • Sewer, Water and Stormwater projects • Downtown Revitalization • Historic Preservation • Housing Projects • Two competitive funding rounds per year • Maximum award amount cannot exceed $500,000 • Required local match of at least 10% of the total project cost • Must benefit low to moderate income persons Troy, IN Greg Beumer, Director

10. Rural Development Grants • Rural Development Council Fund (RDCF) monies go to the creation of “regional entities” that promote the improvement of the quality of life in rural Indiana • Rural Development Action Fund (RDAF) provides grant dollars to entities that work to enhance and assist in improving the economic viability of rural Indiana communities • Grants are awarded through competitive funding rounds • 2003-2004: 40 communities are receiving grants for a total of $6.2 million Greg Beumer, Director

11. High Speed Communications Facilitate affordable high speed communications in rural and underserved communities through public policy, education and community outreach. The ORA, under the leadership of Lt. Governor Skillman’s office, aims to achieve statewide connectivity by 2007. Cris Fulford, Director

12. IN State Office of Rural Health Maintain and improve the access, quality and financial viability of rural health and human service delivery systems in rural Indiana. To augment and enhance the existence of small rural hospitals through the Federal Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program. 6 aims for the delivery of health care: safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable. Bob Sunman, Director

13. Celebrating 20 years! Using economic development, redevelopment and historic preservation tactics to help individuals, businesses and organizations strengthen the centers of their cities and towns. Ellen Harper, Director Frankfort, IN

14. Leadership Development Increase the leadership capacity of individual rural community members and their communities by providing resources, training opportunities and technical assistance. GOALS: • Be THE state repository for leadership contacts and resources • According to need, provide training modules for rural communities • Support and perform community planning/visioning sessions in conjunction with other statewide efforts • Enhance statewide network of leadership organizations Annie Hernandez, Director

15. IRDC The Indiana Rural Development Council is a partnership of local, state, federal, for-profit, and not-for-profit stakeholders that support Indiana communities. The IRDC’s purpose is to coordinate efforts of citizens and government to meet the economic and social needs of rural Indiana. Phil Anderson, Director

16. Key Objectives • Community Visitation Program • Entrepreneurship Task Force • “Hubs” – Facilitating Groups • EIWG (infrastructure) - IHART (housing) • Leadership - Workforce • Health Care - Education • Local Planning - Land Use • Ag Development - Social/ Cultural • Technology (broadband) • Communications (outreach, conferences and partners) Phil Anderson, Director

17. Office of RuralAffairs CONTACT Information Community Development Block Grant Greg Beumer at gbeumer@ora.in.gov or 317.232.1703 Grants Management Beth Goeb at bgoeb@ora.in.gov or 317.232.8334 High Speed Communications Cris Fulford at cfulford@ora.in.gov or 317.234.1252 Indiana Rural Development Council- www.in.gov/irdc/ Phil Anderson at panderson@ora.in.gov or 317.232.8776 Indiana Main Street- www.in.gov/mainstreet/ Ellen Harper at eharper@ora.in.gov or 317.232.8912 Leadership Development Annie Hernandez at ahernandez@ora.in.gov or 317.232.8909 Indiana State Office of Rural Health Bob Sunman at bsunman@isdh.state.in.us or 317.233.7829 Strategic Development Steve Adams at sadams@ora.in.gov or 317.232.8917 Indiana Office of Rural Affairs Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, Secretary of Rural Development Joe Pearson, Director One North Capitol, Ste. 600 Indianapolis, IN 46204 317.232.8895 jpearson@ora.in.gov www.in.gov/ora