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May is Bike Month. In Indiana it’s also a celebration of speed, car racing, and all things local.
I kicked off May a little early with a metric century (100 kilometer/62 mile) bike ride in Louisville with my husband as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival. It is a great way to spend a Sunday morning, and great training for my upcoming triathlon season. It also gave us an opportunity to see metro Louisville in a way we hadn’t yet experienced. I have run the Derby half marathon and loved the tour of Louisville it provided. So many great places.
Director of Capacity Building Rose Scovel, AICP with her husband, David Scovel, LPG Senior Geologist, BCA Environmental Consultants
The month begins with the One America Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini Marathon – known locally as “the Mini.” The Mini is something everyone should do (at least) once. It is a local celebration, it is one of the largest half marathons in the country, and it is an opportunity for a physical activity challenge and to see Indianapolis in a different way that most people have experienced it. I have walked/run the Mini eight times. It was my first half marathon. The Mini is walker friendly and is a mix of elite level runners and people who walk a half marathon once a year. The course begins downtown and heads out toward the Town of Speedway, which has been undergoing a transformation of their downtown and Speed Zone economic development area. It then enters the track and you cover the entire 2.5 miles on foot (I have also ridden my bike around the track). Then the course weaves back to Military Park. There are neighborhoods on the route that highlight some of the very real housing challenges in Indy, neighborhoods that many “outsiders” don’t see otherwise. Regardless, people see the city in a whole new way. The training programs that lead up to the Mini create a sense of community (and happen in several places around the state) and connect people in meaningful relationships.
Director of Capacity Building Rose Scovel, AICP finished her 8th Mini in 2016.
That same weekend is the American Planning Association national planning conference in New York City. I will be attending as part of the Planners4Health collaboration. There we will talk about the work the collaboration has been doing around integrating planning (and community development) with public health and promoting health in all plans.
Connecting bikes and the Indianapolis 500, the Central Indiana Bicycling Association has their 500 miles (or 500 kilometers) in May competition where members try to ride either 310 or 500 miles in May to earn a special jersey (average 10-16 miles per day). These miles can be commuting (avoiding the traffic and enjoying the spring weather), recreation rides, or training for bike races or triathlon. All miles count. All miles are a way to experiences neighborhoods in a different way than you do in a car. Some miles end in local beer or local donuts, which is economic development at its most fun!
Friday, May 19 is Bike to Work Day. While many more days are great for biking to work, May 19 is a day set aside for groups to meet and encourage people to try riding in to work. It’s about people working with people to overcome barriers to biking to work (logistics, safety, etc.). It is about building a community of people. It allows you to experience your commute in an entirely different way. Depending on your community and where you work you may be able to ride most of the way without being on roads. Of my 10 mile bike commute only 1.3 miles is on road, the rest is on the Monon Trail and the Cultural Trail in Indianapolis. Allyson (Director of Sustainability) has been bike commuting for the past few weeks because construction projects have left the roads so congested that her bike commute is faster than driving. Try it out! A few quick guidelines if you aren’t used to bike commuting:
Indiana State Department of Health Healthy Communities Planner Pete Fritz, AICP, ALSA is a regular bike commuter and always ready to ride
Look for bike events in your community – in Indy we have organized rides to the ball park, weekly recurring rides, women’s rides, grand touring weekend rides (often involving stops at local restaurants), and beer rides (lots more too). It’s a great way to get some physical activity, meet new people, and explore. You don’t need a fancy bike. You don’t need to wear spandex.
If your community has a local bike share program May is the perfect month to try that too! I use Pacers Bikeshare in Indy to get around downtown without moving my car. It’s a great way to get to meetings or appointments (or lunch) and is faster than walking – or getting the car from the parking garage. More communities in Indiana have added bike share programs in the past few years.
If you try riding on trails and decide you like it (you’ll love it), the Greenways Foundation of Indiana has a number of different challenges that run from April 22 (Earth Day) through October. Some are focused on local trail use while others encourage exploring your region or the state. I am participating in the Hoosier Trail Hero challenge for the second year – riding (or running) at least 10 different trails around the state. http://www.greenwaysfoundation.org/
Beyond Monumental Strategic Partnerships Manager Swati Gunale and Prosperity Indiana Director of Capacity Building Rose Scovel, AICP riding in the Greenways Challenge in 2016.
Planning, Healthy Communities, Bikes, and Community Development are all connected and help connect people and places to make prosperity. Prosperity Indiana’s capacity building team can help you make connections and provide information resources on how to make your community healthier (and more fun).
Also, Prosperity Indiana will be hosting our first Twitter chat on May 11 at 11:00 AM and we'll be talking about healthy neighborhoods and physical activity. I'll have control of the @INCommDev Twitter handle and we'll have fun for an hour. There will be six questions to respond to and opportunities to connect with others doing the same work.
Happy biking! Cheers to healthy communities!
Rose Scovel, AICP
Director of Capacity Building
First organized in July 2001 by a collaboration of Chicago-area organizations and directed by the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank, Money Smart Week has grown and become an annual public awareness campaign promoting personal financial literacy across the nation. During the six days of Money Smart Week, participating organizations from community groups, financial institutions, and government agencies will host events to educate the general public on smart money practices. This year, Money Smart Week will be from Monday, April 24th to Saturday, April 29th.There are several opportunities to attend events in Indiana with hosts including the Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson, AARP Indiana, The Social Security Administration, The Indy Star, Indiana Legal Services, and more. Below are some events that will be held throughout the state, but please use the Official Money Smart Week Event Page to find an event near you.
Tippecanoe County: Events will be held on Purdue University’s campus beginning on Monday, April 24th.The Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network joined HomesteadCS and Purdue Federal Credit Union to present to Purdue University staff members, students, and interested community members about the predatory nature of Payday lending. The presentation took place at Purdue University’s Horticulture Building room 117 at 12pm and at 5pm. A recording of the presentation will be made available to the public. On April 28th, a seminar on Homebuyer Education will be held in the Horticulture Building room 117 at Purdue University from 12pm-1pm. This event is open for students, faculty, and staff.
Marion County: Events will be held throughout Indianapolis including an Indy Star Call for Action event on Tuesday, April 25th from 4:30pm-8pm. The event will take place at the John Boner Community Center at 2236 E. 10th St. and will provide consumer advice through free attorney consultations available in both Spanish and English.
On Wednesday, April 26th from 9:30am-12pm there will be a viewing of $CAMMED: Investment Fraud Revealed—a thirty-minute documentary about investor fraud in Indiana. Afterwards, investigative reporter for RTV6 Rafael Sanchez will M.C. the event with a panel of experts including Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson, Deputy Attorney General Steve Frank, Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Cindy Oetjen, and Dr. Mary Guerriero Austrom from the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Center, among others. The event will be held at North United Methodist Church on 3808 N. Meridian St.
On Saturday, April 29th the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and the Indianapolis Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority will present Women Building Our Financial Legacy: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Social Security & Investments. The event will begin at 8:30am at the New Direction Church located on 5330 E. 38th St. Breakfast will be provided, but please RSVP by Thursday, April 27th through the eventbrite page or 317-748-3195.
Johnson County: Kelly Griese, an Investor Education Coordinator from the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office will provide a free fraud prevention presentation on Tuesday, April 25th, from 6:30-8:00pm. The presentation will be held at Prince of Peace United Church of Christ on 3050 West Smokey Row Road, Bargersville and will cover the latest scams and techniques used by fraudsters, how to request and review your credit report, how to freeze your credit, and how to report fraud. Seating is limited so please register online at center.com/register or by calling Pastor Joan Dell at 317-535-7712.
Webinar: On Tuesday, April 25th from 11am-12pm, the Social Security Administration will host a Social Security Retirement Planning webinar. Register to attend the webinar at attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/6272735108852379650 in order to learn more about the many factors to consider when deciding when to start receiving your Social Security benefits.
Through the joint efforts of dedicated individuals, agencies, community organizations, and financial institutions, Money Smart Week will empower Americans in all fifty states with the knowledge and tools to become financially stable. Please join us by finding an event near you through the Official Money Smart Week Event Page.
The time is fast approaching when Prosperity Indiana staff members hit the road for regional meetings. We will travel across our state for a series of meetings with community development professionals, advocates, neighbors, elected officials, and other stakeholders that are focused on building resilient families and vital communities.
Join us at five locations this summer to engage on issues currently facing your organization and community, the work Prosperity Indiana is doing on your behalf and how Prosperity Indiana can help you build on your organization’s and community’s strengths.
These meetings will allow you to:
Please mark your calendars for this opportunity and register today! Up to five staff at member organizations can attend for free, if the Executive Director is among the attendees. Lunch will be provided.
June 19: Northeast Regional Member Meeting Fort Wayne, Hosted by Prosperity Indiana member Brightpoint 12-2 pm EST
Come learn about the Community Loan Center program and hear from Brightpoint staff about their experiences and impact through this employee lending innovation aimed at reducing reliance on payday lending. Community Loan Centers allow local employers to offer employees small dollar loans at 18% interest rate on a 12-month term. Participating employees can build their credit and take advantage of financial education classes.
June 27: Southeast Regional Member Meeting Jeffersonville, Hosted by Prosperity Indiana member New Hope Services 12-2 pm EST
Thinking about going solar? Come hear Allyson Mitchell, Prosperity Indiana's Director of Sustainability, discuss the Solar Uniting Neighbors (SUN) For All program and learn how you and your organization can participate. The group-purchase solar discount program aims to help community organizations and residents purchase and install solar panels at a reduced rate to lower their organizational and household operating costs and pass those benefits on to low- moderate-income (LMI) individuals. Direct funding opportunities are available to Prosperity Indiana members.
July 20: South Central Regional Member Meeting Bloomington, Hosted by Prosperity Indiana member City of Bloomington 12-2 pm EST
Incorporating asset-building strategies into existing programs can enable and support individuals and families at all income levels. Discuss with Kelsey Clayton, Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network Manager, the economic barriers families face. Also learn about the Learning Cluster, a current initiative assisting organizations in integrating financial capability services, which help Hoosiers achieve financial stability and provide access to tools that help organizations think through this innovation.
August 10: Northwest Regional Member Meeting Hammond, Hosted by the Continuum of Care Network of Northwest Indiana 10 am -12 pm CST
Hear Director of Capacity Building Rose Scovel share about how you can utilize the staff expertise at Prosperity Indiana to assist you with consolidated planning, housing needs assessments, housing studies, assessments of fair housing, HUD compliance, and other plans and processes that might be required for your organization.
September 27: Southwest Regional Member Meeting Evansville, Hosted by Prosperity Indiana member Old National Bank 12-2 pm CST
Come hear about the Outcomes Platform: a new data collection, tracking and outcomes reporting solution. Learn how you can use this comprehensive and interactive data tracking tool to visualize the impact that your organization has on your community and the results of your collective efforts with local partners.
Every day, I get to work with the brightest people and impactful organizations across Indiana. These organizations and their staff are Prosperity Indiana member organizations - local nonprofits, private businesses, and government - each with a mission and drive to serve and build communities. From amongst these member organizations, the board of directors receives and solicits nominations to help lead our organization.
Know someone who fits this description, apply to join the Prosperity Indiana board of directors here.
At the March 17 meeting, the board of directors approved a slate for election to renew and supplement the board leadership.
The slate for renewing members of the board includes:
The slate for new board members includes:
If you are the membership (bundle) administrator of a 2017 voting member organization, please log into the member portal and cast your ballot for the board of directors election.
Are you looking to make positive difference in people's lives?
Carey Services is seeking applicants to serve adults with development disabilities as:
EOE
The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) is seeking candidates for multiple positions. OCRA works with local, state and national partners to provide resources and technical assistance to aid communities in shaping and achieving their vision for economic development.
There are two openings for Program Managers - Grant Services. They assist the Business Office of the Lieutenant Governor in the operation and administration of grant programs administered by the agencies that are under the purview of the Lieutenant Governor. The agencies for which Grant Services provides assistance include the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, the Indiana Office of Tourism Development and the Office of Defense Development.
Responsibilities include review of grant applications for compliance with federal, state and departmental regulations to determine eligibility for funding; providing technical assistance regarding the requirements for environmental review, civil rights, land acquisition/relocation, procurement of goods and services, prevailing wage payment, minority and women owned business enterprise requirements and/or other related statutes; on-site field-monitoring activities of federal and state grants and work with grantee to resolve findings and bring project to closed status. Complete written monitoring reports, applicable worksheets and Federal reporting.
The CDBG Project Manager (PM) reports to the CDBG Program Manager and helps manage Indiana’s CDBG Program. This includes the State and Small Cities CDBG Programs, CDBG Disaster Recovery Supplemental Appropriation Two (IKE) and all other programs utilizing CDBG funds. The PM will also be responsible for coordination with the Grants Management Team for compliance monitoring and all other aspects of Grants Management. The PM will perform grants management and compliance on other OCRA funded programs as assigned.
For the full job descriptions and to apply, visit http://www.in.gov/spd/careers/ and search for “rural” or “Lieutenant Governor's Office.”
Community-based organizations from every corner of the country will convene near Washington, DC on May 31-June 2 for People & Places 2017. (Scholarships for registration to the event have all been awarded -- thanks to all who responded.) Click here to attend this event alongside your Hoosier peers and others from around the nation.
Here are four reasons you don't want to miss this dynamic peer-learning event:
See what's working to strengthen places and improve lives. The agenda features 35 sessions with more than 100 presenters. Learn about their successful strategies to remediate blight, promote equitable development, bolster small businesses, encourage asset growth, make places healthier, and so much more. Get inspired by local solutions that you can adapt and transform back home.
Learn effective political organizing tactics. There were some big wins in the November elections at the state and local levels. Ballot initiatives and organizing campaigns across the country resulted in significant new funding for housing and community development. Learn from advocates how they achieved victory and – in some cases – learned from defeat.
Connect to diverse community development networks. Engage with peers from five national networks. You'll develop your own network of placemakers who are just a phone call, text or email away.
Go to Capitol Hill to protect resources. Join us on Capitol Hill as our five networks raise our voices on behalf of the places we serve. Tell your representatives in Congress how federal funds work to improve lives in your community. Help change the narrative to highlight work that benefits low-income and disinvested places. If we don't tell the story of our places, who will?
HOSTS
* National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders * National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development * National Urban League * Network for Developing Conscious Communities * National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations
Read a message from the hosts about the importance of bringing together our networks at this critical moment for America's places.
HOTEL DISCOUNT
Hotel rooms are available at the discounted rate of $215 per night at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia – right above the Crystal City Metro Station. The hotel is minutes from Washington, DC and just one Metrorail stop away from Reagan National Airport. Reserve a discounted hotel room online or call 877-212-5752 and say you're attending People & Places 2017. You must RESERVE YOUR ROOM BY MAY 2 to get the discounted rate. In case you want to extend your time in the DC area, the discounted rate runs from May 27-June 5.
Click here for more information and to register today!
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) and the Indiana Office of Tourism Development (IOTD) announced on April 5, 2017 a new grant funding opportunity, the Quick Impact Placebased Grant Program (QuIP), a matching program designed to fund the type of place enhancement and community transformation that sparks community wide conversation and creativity.
“One of the cornerstones of OCRA’s mission is to continuously look for partnership opportunities that offer a variety of resources to support community-led initiatives which improve the economic health and wellbeing of Indiana,” said OCRA Deputy Director Matt Crouch. “We are excited to launch QuIP as a fast turnaround, high impact opportunity for projects throughout our cities and towns.”
Eligible Applicants include:
Eligible applicants have the opportunity to apply for project funding between $2,500 and $5,000 with a 50 percent required cash and/or in-kind match.
“The goal in creating the Quick Impact Placebased Grant Program was to provide communities another opportunity in which to build upon their local assets and create community connections,” added IOTD Executive Director Mark Newman. “We recognize this is a fast turnaround, but have great faith these grants could provide the quick wins for communities to build upon or spark the initial conversations for local transformation and growth.”
Examples of Eligible Projects:
There are many eligible projects. These dollars should be used to create a small change that spurs conversation and community engagement. The space should in some way be transformed for the better.
Ineligible Projects include:
OCRA and IOTD encourage these projects to be community unique and locally inspired. Placemaking involves a working partnership with local governments, residents, community groups, and organizations as well as business and community agencies. Successful applications would demonstrate community collaboration, partnership capacity, and have impactful community benefits.
Applications must be received in the OCRA office by 4pm, EST on Friday, April 21, 2017.
Applications can be delivered in person or mailed to: 1 North Capitol Suite 600 Indianapolis, IN 46204
For more information on QuIP, contact your OCRA Community Liaison or visit: www.in.gov/ocra/quipgrant.htm.
In case you missed it, here's a link to our latest podcast:
2017 Mid-Session Policy Update
Other podcasts released this year include:
April podcasts will focus on business diversity.
The State of Indiana wishes citizens to participate in the development of the State of Indiana’s 2017 Annual Action Plan. In accordance with this regulation, the state is providing the opportunity for citizens to comment on the draft report, which will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on or before May 15, 2017.
Public hearings will take place at five locations on Thursday, March 30, 2017 from 4:00pm EST- 6:00 pm EST.
Central/Indianapolis Indiana State Fairgrounds Discovery Hall, Suite 201 Indianapolis, IN 46205
Southwest/Vincennes Purdue Extension-Knox County 4259 N Purdue Rd. Vincennes, IN 47591
Southeast/Scottsburg Purdue Extension Office for Scott County 1 East McClain Avenue, Suite G-30 Scottsburg, IN. 47170-1894
Northeast/Huntington Purdue Extension Office 1340 S. Jefferson Street Huntington, IN 46750
Northwest/Rensselaer – note that this location in on Central Standard Time. The hearing will start at 3:00pm CST. Purdue Extension Office 2530 N. McKinley Avenue #1 Rensselaer, IN 47978
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