INDIANAPOLIS — Lt. Governor Eric Holcomb announceD the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and the Indiana Office of Tourism Development have launched a second round of the Place Based Investment Funds.

This program is an opportunity for all Indiana communities to apply for grant funding to support community and economic development projects that focus on furthering unique crowd gathering experiences and enhancing specific quality of place initiatives.

“PBIF is a competitive matching grant program that helps Indiana communities become better places to visit, live and work,” said Lt. Governor Holcomb, who oversees both OCRA and IOTD. “Over the years, the projects PBIF has supported have successfully attracted new businesses, visitors and residents to our cities and towns, contributing to our overall economic growth.”

The program strives to assist communities in promoting quality of life, improving tourism experiences and developing multi-purpose gathering places. A priority of the application is to inspire and incentivize collaboration between a broad array of community and county wide institutions. The partnership between the two state agencies demonstrates the collaborate nature of the program and sets forth an example of the dynamic impact of how reaching out for a partner can impact a community.

PBIF offers communities the chance to apply for $20,000 to $50,000 through the competitive application process aimed at funding creative projects that build upon the unique assets and community specific vision that will make their local community more attractive for visitors and residents alike. Eligible projects must also:

• Enhance the community in ways that promote visitation and increase the desirability of living and investing in the community.
• Significantly enhance existing assets into distinctive and special places for a community.
• Include a partnership of a least two of the following: Community foundations, convention and visitor bureaus, economic development organizations, Indiana Main Street organizations, local units of government and public or private schools.

Previously funded projects are no indication of competitiveness for the current round. Creativity is encouraged, so past projects should not inhibit your ingenuity. The Place Based Investment Fund has helped to fund projects such as pier construction, gathering spaces, redesign and reuse of existing sports facilities, plazas, amphitheaters, river front development into public recreational space, and much more.

Letters of Intent are due by 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, time with applications due b 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30.

For more information on the Place Based Investment Fund, how to apply, eligibility and previously funded recipient details, as well as frequently asked questions, contact your OCRA Community Liaison or click here.