Marshall County Crossroads has officially been designated this year’s Stellar Community. The designation opens the door to millions of dollars of grant opportunities from various state agencies and federal programs. Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs made the announcement Thursday morning.
County Commissioner Kevin Overmyer describes the experience of getting the call. “I was sitting here waiting, and then, when I heard the lieutenant governor come on, I knew we had it,” he says.
Crouch said in a statement that she’s “so proud of Marshall County Crossroads and the work they have done to improve the quality of life for all their residents, and to attract new visitors.” Marshall County Crossroads is made up of Argos, Bourbon, Bremen, Culver, LaPaz, and Plymouth, as well as the county itself. The Stellar designation will help the region implement a quality of life plan over the coming years.
Many communities are looking to upgrade their parks and downtown areas. Allie Shook represents Discover Plymouth and also works with the city’s park and recreation department. “We’ve got some good things for River Park Square going on: a trail and some shelters and playground and that kind of thing,” Shook explained. “And then also, regional trails, transportation work, so just a little bit of everything and some downtown work, as well. Obviously, the Rees is involved in that.” Mayor Mark Senter adds that music and the arts are a big part of the city’s plans.
Downtown renovations are planned in Bremen, according to Director of Operations Trend Weldy. “Three blocks downtown, sidewalks, streets, streetlights, all that’s going to be done, and then we have a Jackson Street flex street project that’s coming along,” Weldy explains. “We’re going to put a pavilion in the middle of the street on Jackson Street where we hold our Oktoberfest and our farmers markets, which is going to make that just like a community area.”
Argos is planning a few projects that will change the town’s aesthetics and make the town more functional, according to Jon Vanderweele. “I think we’re working on the Pond Park project as our first task, our first project,” he says. “It’s to be determined yet, but I’m excited about that, and I’m really excited about the possible downtown project we have planned, so it’s going to be a great opportunity for the Town of Argos and Marshall County.”
This was Marshall County Crossroads’ second year as a regional Stellar finalist. In a statement from Marshall County Crossroads, Commissioner Overmyer said that while it was disappointing that the region didn’t get the designation last year, it gave them “the determination to come together stronger and more focused.”
Culver Town Council President Ginny Bess Munroe adds that the designation “is a great honor for Marshall County, but it’s also just the beginning of the work we want to accomplish.”
As the next step in the process, the lieutenant governor and other state officials will travel to Marshall County for a “Stellarbration” on December 19. The state Stellar Team will also meet with local officials in the coming weeks to discuss project feasibility, funding, and timeframes. This year’s other three finalists, including the nearby Constellation of Starke region, will get to split $1 million, to help them move forward with their regional development plans.
This isn’t the first major investment of state funding Marshall County has seen in recent years. The area has gotten funding from the Regional Cities Initiative, and the Town of Culver got its own Stellar designation in 2017.
