Indiana Launches Program to Help Communities Leverage Federal COVID-19 Money

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch announces OCRA’s new HELP program during a press conference in Evansville Tuesday. (photo provided by Lieutenant Governor’s Office)

Indiana communities can get some “HELP” spending their American Rescue Plan money. The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs officially announced its Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program on Tuesday.

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Lt. Gov. Expects New Regional Development Initiative to Set Indiana Apart from Other States

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch speaks during during the Northwest Indiana Forum’s legislative wrap-up breakfast in Merrillville Thursday.

Indiana’s lieutenant governor expects a big impact from the state’s new regional development initiative. Suzanne Crouch says the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) will provide up to $50 million each to up to 10 regions.

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Lieutenant Governor Looking Forward to Stellar Finalists’ Final Proposals

Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch

Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch is looking forward to seeing the final proposals from this year’s four Stellar Communities finalists. Marshall County Crossroads – made up of Argos, Bourbon, Bremen, Culver, Plymouth, and Marshall County itself – as well as Constellation of Starke – consisting of Hamlet, Knox, North Judson, and Starke County – are both in the running for the regional designation.

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Culver Town Council to Open Culver Beach Lodge Project Bids This Month

Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist updated the town council members this week on the upcoming Culver Beach Lodge project.

Construction documents are being put together by Steve Park with Mosaic Builders.  He’s finalizing major items in the documents and then the project will be sent for bid opening on Thursday, March 28.  The lakeside porch enclosure will be bid as an alternate bid. 

The bids will due that day by 10:30 a.m. ET with the bid opening at 11 a.m. ET that day.  The bids will be taken under advisement at that time to be discussed further at the April 9 Culver Town Council meeting. 

Leist said the Culver Beach Lodge project is part of the Stellar Communities Designation program plans that were approved for the Town of Culver.  The Beach Lodge will see a major renovation.

“The project includes updating the mechanical issues – plumbing, restroom fixtures, and electrical,” explained Leist.  “The main floor will get a major renovation.  They’ll be taking down a couple of walls and making the main programming area larger.  The addition on the street side will allow for a new staircase and elevator.”

The extensive construction contract is currently being reviewed by Leist and Town Attorney Jim Clevenger. 

The project is anticipated to begin this spring with plans to work around the summer schedule at the Culver Town Park with completion in the fall. 

The town of Culver received funding for the project through the Stellar Communities Designation Program through the state. 

Culver Moving Ahead with Town’s Stellar Communities Projects

Plans for the Lake Maxinkuckee Bike and Walking Trail and other Stellar Community projects are moving ahead in the Town of Culver.

Town Manager Jonathan Leist told the town council Tuesday that the first quarterly update meetings on the three INDOT-funded projects were held last week. Those include the Lake Maxinkuckee Trail, West Jefferson Gateway, and State Road 10 sidewalks.

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Culver Town Council to Meet Tonight

The Culver Town Council will meet tonight where the council members will reorganize for 2019.  There are three new members on the council this year including Bill Githens and Bill Clevenger who were selected in the 2018 election while Rich West is filling the unexpired term of Tammy Shaffer who resigned from the council in December.

The council members are also expected to make board and commission appointments, approve the attorney’s contract and the Visitor Center contract, and approve conflict of interest statements.

Town Manager Jonathan Leist will provide an update on projects within Culver’s Stellar Communities Designation Program, and the council members will receive updates from department heads. 

The Culver Town Council members will meet at 6:30 p.m. ET tonight at the Culver Town Hall at 200 E. Washington Street.