Brown County chosen for Hometown Collaboration Initiative

0

Brown County is one of five Indiana Communities to receive Hometown Collaboration Initiative fellowships from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

The HCI program is delivered by OCRA in a partnership with Ball State University’s Indiana Communities Institute and Purdue University’s Center for Regional Development. Together, these entities aim to help local leaders “work to gain broad-based input and buy-in that is vital to the long-term success and sustainability of all community development initiatives,” a press release from OCRA said.

Local participants receive many hours of training with a “community coach” from one of the above entities, then undertake an in-depth analysis of their hometowns.

After that step, HCI teams choose one of three “building block” options and a project to focus on in that area:

  • Economy – Build a supportive community environment for small businesses and entrepreneurs. 
  • Leadership – Develop a new generation of local leaders who will take an active part in addressing community priorities.
  • Placemaking – Invest in public space development, local foods, or other quality of life initiatives.

The towns of Albion and Cumberland and cities of Angola and Washington were the other four communities selected for “Generation 5” of the HCI. Fourteen other communities around the state are in varying stages of the process.

More information on the Hometown Collaboration Initiative can be found on the HCI website.

The local HCI team has planned a celebration for 6 p.m. Thursday, May 4 (today) at the Brown County Inn. Anyone wishing to learn more about the process is welcome to attend.

Read past stories on the HCI by clicking on the tag below.

No posts to display