August 8, 2006
Contacts:
Bill Taft, LISC [317] 396-0588, x12
Justin Ohlemiller, Office of the
Mayor, [317] 327-NEWS
Anne-Marie Predovich, INRC, [317] 920-0330
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Six targeted neighborhoods to share $2.4 million for intensive grassroots revitalization & development
Great Indy Neighborhoods to target resources, staff & expertise to create enhanced model for neighborhood development
INDIANAPOLIS – Mayor Bart Peterson and a coalition of neighborhood and community leaders today announced $2.4 million in private investment that will support neighborhood-driven priorities in six targeted neighborhoods to strengthen community relationships & economic growth and improve quality of life.
The targeted neighborhoods, representing more than 160,000 residents, are the pilot projects of the Great Indy Neighborhoods initiative (GINI), a partnership among the City of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center (INRC) and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).
Neighborhood stakeholders, representing various facets of each neighborhood, came together under the auspices of a convening organization. They are:
o Near East Side, organized by the John H. Boner Community Center;
o Near Southeast Side organized by the Southeast Neighborhood Development;
o The Binford Road neighborhoods on the northeast side, organized by Binford Redevelopment & Growth;
o Near West Side, organized by the Hawthorne Community Center;
o Near Southwest Side, organized by the West Indianapolis Development Corporation; and
o The Crooked Creek neighborhoods on the northwest side, organized by the Crooked Creek Northwest Community Development Corporation.
As a part of Great Indy Neighborhoods, the neighborhoods will receive staff, resources and technical assistance to accomplish several goals:
ü Embark on an intensive grassroots effort to reach out to and engage as many neighborhood residents and stakeholders as possible;
ü Write a “quality of life plan,” a specific list of priorities for that neighborhood; and
ü Bring together those stakeholders to act on those priorities and implement change in their neighborhood.
The priorities are designed by the neighborhood, but could include any issue or opportunity facing their community, such as resident leadership, crime, jobs, housing, education, health & social services and recreation.
In addition to the $2.4 million in direct funding, the city will use special redevelopment tools that could funnel even more funds to those neighborhoods for new sidewalks, streetlights, road repair, restoring abandoned houses and other needs.
GINI is creating an enhanced model for improving neighborhood quality of life, Peterson said.
“This movement will help residents from every corner of our city come together to plan a better tomorrow and then work together to see that brighter future arrive,” Mayor Peterson said. “While we focus today on six particular areas of our city, this initiative offers ongoing support and technical assistance for every neighborhood in the city.”
While six areas of the city will be targeted for funding and support, Great Indy Neighborhoods will offer assistance to every neighborhood that wants it. GINI will offer additional opportunities to engage in neighborhoods by helping to identify community leaders and give them the support and resources they need to improve their neighborhoods from a grassroots level.
“Great Indy Neighborhoods promotes private investment in community projects that revitalizes neighborhoods,” said Yvonne Shaheen, co-chair of GINI’s Steering Committee. “Strengthened communities are better equipped to take advantage of market forces to create retail and housing development and create stronger connections to area wide opportunities in business, employment, recreation, culture and education.”
One effort to meet this goal is the development of a Neighborhood Resource Guide. Available in print and online in September, the guide will help neighbors find resources and partners to bring about grassroots, comprehensive change in their neighborhoods.
"Great Indy Neighborhoods allows all neighborhood residents a tremendous opportunity to improve upon their good works while embracing a strategy that will strengthen and enhance the whole fabric of their community, whether it is through direct funding, technical support or the sharing of ideas,” said John Hall, former deputy mayor and co-chair of GINI’s Steering Committee.
About GINI.
Great Indy Neighborhoods resulted from the city’s first Community Development Summit in 2004, which brought together more than 400 neighborhood leaders, business owners, residents and faith-based organizations to focus on developing a plan for building and sustaining stronger, healthier neighborhoods. These six neighborhoods were selected through a competitive process – governed by a steering committee of 40 community leaders from across Indianapolis – based on their demonstrated collaboration and ability to build consensus among neighbors and address issues and opportunities facing their community.
Click here to download the complete document in Microsoft Word format.