Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the time county officials will meet on Friday. InkFreeNews regrets the error.

By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – Kosciusko County will receive a $1 million grant from the state of Indiana that will be directed toward helping rural areas of the county.

The grant will provide partial funding to hire a director who will be charged with helping rural communities by using federal money through the American Rescue Plan, according to a news release from the county.

The million-dollar matching grant through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) will be used for projects that are identified by the communities.

Kosciusko County is one of three recipients of the OCRA grant money in Indiana.

County Commissioner Cary Groninger said the county has been laying the groundwork on issues important to rural areas, including the need for more long-term planning, more housing and access to broadband.

“This is going to build and provide capacity for our rural communities and small towns to plan and build projects that will have a lasting impact and prepare them for resilience in the future,” Groninger said.

“I look forward to working with our small towns to allow them to be all they can be and provide the quality of life opportunities that will help draw people to the community,” he added.

The county announced plans for a joint meeting of the county commissioners and county council at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 3, in the old courthouse. The announcement said the discussion will focus on ARP money and improved communications for emergency responders.