3/20/2007
Media Contact:
Bill Taft, LISC [317] 396-0588, x12
Justin Ohlemiller, Office of the Mayor, [317] 327-NEWS
Anne-Marie Predovich, INRC, [317] 920-0330 x101
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Neighborhood leaders, Mayor, officially kickoff $2.4 million grassroots revitalization & development efforts
Celebration to recognize funders of the initiative and highlight first early-action projects taking place in targeted neighborhoods INDIANAPOLIS – Today, Mayor Bart Peterson was joined by neighborhood residents, community leaders and funders to kick off a number of early action projects beginning as part of the Great Indy Neighborhoods Initiatives (GINI) and recognize the numerous private sector donors who have funded nearly 80 percent of the $2.4 million targeted for community building and redevelopment initiatives.
GINI, a partnership between the City of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center (INRC) and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is a 3-year program that promotes comprehensive community development to strengthen and improve the quality of life in local neighborhoods. Comprehensive community development focuses on collaboratively improving all aspects of neighborhoods that impact residents’ quality of life.
Through a $2.4 million project pool of private funding being raised from the corporate and philanthropic community, six targeted GINI neighborhoods will receive staff, resources and technical assistance to bring together neighborhood stakeholders to create and implement a quality of life plan that contains the vision of what each neighborhood hopes to become. The City will provide millions more in supplemental investment to those neighborhoods with special redevelopment tools that will support infrastructure improvements including new sidewalks, streetlights, road repair, abandoned house restoration and other needs. A redevelopment financing district has already been established for the Near Eastside and is expected to generate up to a million annually to be reinvested in that area. Similar special financing districts will be set up for each of the remaining five targeted neighborhoods.
At this time, GINI has reached 80 percent of its fundraising goal through the generous support of local and national donors, including Local Initiatives Support Corporation, State Farm, Charter One Bank, The Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of REALTORS® (MIBOR), The Indianapolis Foundation (an affiliate of CICF), Indianapolis Power and Light, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Making Connections Indianapolis/AECF Fund, A CICF Fund, Citizens Gas and Lilly Endowment.
“Our REALTOR® members in central Indiana lend support to a number of community development projects through our REALTOR® Community Investment Initiative and they are keenly aware of the importance of strong, vibrant neighborhoods. We are especially pleased to help with this initiative because the residents are taking active leadership roles and customizing solutions that fit their specific needs – we think it’s a great model for success,” said Steve Sullivan, CEO of MIBOR.
Since getting started late last year, each of the six neighborhoods have been focusing on identifying and engaging 100 new leaders and seeding small action projects to keep momentum moving forward. In West Indianapolis, funding supported a small park that is being built as part of a collaboration between Indianapolis Public School #46, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, West Indianapolis Development Corporation, and local corporate volunteers in order to provide a safe place for neighborhood children to play. In the Binford Road neighborhoods, funds are supporting planning and preparation for a new Farmer’s Market to be located on the southwest corner of Binford Boulevard and 75th Street every Saturday, beginning June 2.
“GINI is another example of getting things done the ‘Indianapolis Way,’ with strong community leaders coming together with caring private sector partners to make a difference,” Mayor Bart Peterson said. “The $2.4 million, combined with millions more from revenue generated through special financing within the redevelopment areas, will improve the quality of life for thousands of residents in these six targeted neighborhoods.”
The targeted GINI neighborhoods are home to more than 160,000 residents. Each neighborhood is led by a convening organization with the guidance and support of various neighborhood partners. The GINI demonstration neighborhoods are:
- Near East Side, organized by the John H. Boner Community Center;
- Near Southeast Side organized by the Southeast Neighborhood Development;
- The Binford Road neighborhoods on the northeast side, organized by Binford Redevelopment & Growth;
- Near West Side, organized by the Hawthorne Community Center;
- Near Southwest Side, organized by the West Indianapolis Development Corporation; and
- The Crooked Creek neighborhoods on the northwest side, organized by the Crooked Creek Northwest Community Development Corporation.
While six areas of the city will be targeted for funding and support, Great Indy Neighborhoods will offer assistance and guidance 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.
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.
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