Posey County receives over $600,000 to go towards improvements

Our community has been recognized twice in the last week for different grants that will boost our education system and economic development efforts. New Harmony was honored at the Statehouse as being one of 24 Hoosier communities to receive a part of more than $8 million in community development grants, and the Metropolitan School District of Mt. Vernon and North Posey County received grants to improve school security equipment.Funded with federal dollars from the Community Development Block Grant program, 21 communities received grants from the Community Focus Fund (CFF), and three communities received grants through the Main Street Revitalization Program (MSRP). Both the CFF and MSRP aim to assist smaller Hoosier cities and towns with long-term community development initiatives. While the MSRP focuses on refurbishing the downtown areas of each awarded community, the CFF covers a broader spectrum of community enhancement projects.

New Harmony was awarded over $500,000 to help build storm water infrastructure improvements through a CFF grant. The project in New Harmony consists of 3,820 linear feet of storm sewers, inlets and headwall structures.  The town is extremely flat making the surrounding hillsides steeply sloped causing runoff in rain events.  This project will eliminate flooding on streets, yards and basements that the residents and town have experienced for many years.

The grants are administered through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs which will assist community leaders during the 18-month implementation process. I will be recognizing the town of New Harmony for this achievement at their next town hall meeting on November 21. The meeting is at 5pm, and I encourage the public to attend.

The Secured School Safety Grant Program provides grants to school corporations and charter schools to improve safety measures, such as employing a school resource officer (SRO), conduct a threat assessment or purchase equipment to restrict access to the school or expedite the notification of first responders. Schools with an average daily membership of at least 1,000 students applied for grants up to $50,000 per year.  Schools with less than 1,000 students daily could apply for up to $35,000 per year.

I’m proud to say that the Metropolitan School District of Mt. Vernon received the full $50,000 grant, and the Metropolitan School District of North Posey received a $20,000 grant. Mt. Vernon school district plans to use the money it has received to improve school security equipment, while North Posey County school district plans to improve school security equipment and employ a school resource officer.

In the past month, our district has received over $600,000 to go towards improving our schools and towns. I would like to congratulate those who applied for these grants as I am excited to see the positive impact the money will have on our community and schools.