ACEC Funding Source Committee Workshop

August 6, 2015

WHO WE ARE

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) is an agency within the Lt. Governor’s family of business.

We are conveners. We are connectors.

We are problem solvers.

OCRA staff serve Indiana communities in each of these roles and more.

WHAT WE DO

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs works with local, state, and national partners to provide resources

and technical assistance to aid communities in shaping their vision for

economic development. 

For additional information on OCRA and its programs visit www.ocra.in.gov.

MEET THE TEAM

MEET THE COMMUNITY LIAISONS

A comprehensive list of the many resources we offer to Indiana communities

OCRA PROGRAMS

Main Street Revitalization Program (MSRP)

Funded with federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars

GOAL

To encourage communities with eligible populations to focus on long-term community

development within the downtown area

METHOD

leveraging local investment, job creation, and entrepreneurship

Downtown Enhancement Grant (DEG)

Designed to cultivate innovative approaches to downtown development activities that support and promote community partnerships, projects, and programs to revitalize the downtown area

Eligible applicants for the Downtown Enhancement Grant are current participating Main Street Programs that have been an active Indiana Main Street community for one year

The 2015 Application Round will begin in fall of 2015

For more information about the downtown enhancement grant program, visit www.ocra.in.gov/2362.htm

Downtown Enhancement Grants fund 28 projects with $363K of

local funding.

Place Based Investment Fund (PBIF)

A collaborative effort between the Office of Community and Rural Affairs and the Office of Tourism Development offering a competitive grant program that funds efforts by Indiana communities to become even greater places to visit, live, and work.

The grants are targeted toward “quality of place” initiatives across Indiana, which improve both the quality of life and tourism experience in a community. The agencies are seeking applications for projects that will develop multi-purpose, unique community gathering places

Applicants are required to leverage local funding and partnerships

Place Based Investment Funding saw $704K grant

funding in 16 communities with $998K of local funding.

Hometown Collaboration Initiative (HCI)

Intended for communities with a population of fewer than 25,000 people that want to expand the pipeline of local leaders, strengthen and expand jobs by building on existing economic assets, and embrace placemaking strategies that focus on improving the attractiveness and quality of life of local areas

For more information about HCI, visit www.indianahci.org.

6 communities have been chosen for the inaugural year of the Hometown Collaboration Initiative.

Planning and Redevelopment

Planning Grant The goal of the program is to encourage

communities to plan for long-term community development through projects concerning issues like infrastructure, downtown revitalization, and community facilities

Comprehensive Site Redevelopment Program The goal of the program is to help local units of

government address blighted properties in order to attract investors and improve economic development efforts in general

Water & Infrastructure

Wastewater & Drinking Water Program (WDW) The goal of the program is to improve the quality of water and

wastewater in Indiana and to encourage long-term development Stormwater Improvements Program (SIP)

The goals of the program are to reduce flooding, cut stormwater treatment and energy costs, protect rivers, lakes, and landscape, and generate jobs and spur economic revitalization

Public Facilities Program (PFP) The goals of the program are to improve quality of place and

generate jobs and economic revitalization Urgent Need

The goal of the program is to alleviate those conditions that may pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community

Stellar Communities

Stellar Communities partners include OCRA, IHCDA, and INDOT. Together, these three agencies guide designated communities through the program process to achieve their vision for their communities.

Shovel ReadyCertifies sites that are ready for economic development and features these sites on Indiana’s Site Selector Database and in the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s marketing materials

Three tier of readiness Shovel Ready Shovel Ready Silver Shovel Ready Gold

Applications for certification are accepted on a rolling basis.

The first step is to contact your OCRA Community Liaison who will be able to offer current program details, evaluate readiness to proceed, and provide application instructions.  OCRA, on behalf of the community, will engage the multiple state agency FASTeam (Fast Access Site Team) for prompt approval and certification.

Shovel Ready has 115 certified sites.

Community Readiness Initiative (CRI)

Help communities understand “where they are,”

so they can develop grounded policies based on “where they can legitimately go”

to sustain economic self-sufficiency

Through CRI, communities can:

Gain insight into the strengths and opportunities within your community Determine the best course of action Align your community's vision with its assets Create growth for the future

Community Enhancement and Economic Development (CEED)

Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program providing communities with a source of loan financing for economic development, housing rehabilitation, public facilities, and other large scale projects.

Community Enhancement and Economic Development (CEED)

Program Eligible Applicants•Borrower• State of Indiana non-entitlement jurisdictions• Counties (except Lake and Hamilton)• Cities (except those with direct CDBG

allocation)• Incorporated Towns

•End Borrower• Businesses• Non-profits• Housing developers

Community Enhancement and Economic Development (CEED)

Advantages of CEED Program

•Long-term, Fixed-rate Financing•AAA rates•Not considered a general obligation note•Enables non-entitlement community to do a larger, cost effective project

Community Enhancement and Economic Development (CEED)

CEED Financing• Minimum Loan Amount - $500,000.00• Maximum Loan Amount - $7,000,000.00• Term

• Maximum 20 years residential• Maximum __ years non-residential

(variable)• Interest Rates

• Interim – variable interest rate• Permanent – fixed interest rate

Workforce Development Program (WDP)

A grant program providing funds for workforce development and skills training activities

Anticipated outcomes include a ready and more skilled workforce and increase in public and private partnerships

INDIANA OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Questions?

www.ocra.in.gov Facebook.com/IndianaOCRA

@OCRAIndiana#StellarCommunities#MainStreetMonday

#INMyMainStreet#IndianaShovelReady

#PBIF#HometownCollaborationInitia

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