(Indianapolis, IN) - The La Porte County Housing Alliance is one of the first organizations in the state to benefit from a new community building program.

This week Governor Mike Braun announced the launch of the Indiana Community Impact Accelerator. It’s actually part of a re-launch of the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) started last year. The entire program includes a $1.25 billion investment in community improvement efforts. $250 million of that is from a Lilly Endowment grant.

“Through READI, Indiana communities statewide are breaking ground and cutting the ribbon on downtown expansions, innovation districts, parks and trails, community amenities and so much more,” said Braun. “With this new Accelerator, we will help even more communities strategically plan and bring to life priority projects that support Hoosiers and ensure READI’s impact on our state for years to come.” 

The Indiana Community Impact Accelerator is a three-year program designed to develop a pipeline of investable real estate and civic projects that can continue to drive Indiana’s growth.

One element of the Accelerator is a fellowship program that will place nine mid-career fellows in communities throughout Indiana for two-year terms. The fellowship will offer competitive salaries ranging from $60,000-$75,000 annually and ongoing training to inspire long-term careers in community development, economic development and civic service. More information on the fellowship can be found HERE.

Three community groups were chosen to kick off the Accelerator program. One of them is the La Porte County Housing Alliance, which brings together local groups to address affordable housing options. The other two are in Elkhart and in Huntington County. That list is expected to expand into 30 counties or more over the next three years.