County and City of Jasper officials celebrate start of Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program

ByFree Press Staff Reading Time: 2 minutes
Those pictured are (from left to right) Craig Grelich, Kevin Manley, Mike Kluesner, Lisa Gehlausen, Mayor Dean Vonderheide, Sandy Morton, Elmer Brames, State Rep. Shane Lindauer, Chad Blessinger, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and OCRA Director of Strategic Initiatives Andrea Kern.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch joined the Office of Community and Rural Affairs and representatives from Dubois County at the Statehouse on June 23, 2022, to celebrate the community beginning the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program.

The City of Jasper and Dubois County are participants in the year-long program in which OCRA teams up with communities to build long-term capacity, develop attainable projects and leave a legacy in the community.

Through HELP, OCRA and its partners will employ community engagement, prior planning efforts, and asset-building strategies to reengage communities in preparing for the future while building local leadership capacity. The program is designed to amplify the impact of the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, or CLFRF, of which $1.28 billion has been allocated directly to Indiana communities through the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA.

Jasper and Dubois County set aside funds from the ARPA to be used for HELP.

HELP is a 52-week process culminating in a dynamic Strategic Investment Plan rooted in four pathways:

  • Advancing e-Connectivity
  • Promoting Community Wellness
  • Enhancing Quality of Place
  • Strengthening Local Economies
Chad Blessinger (podium) speaks at the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program ceremony, joining Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch (second from left), Office of Community and Rural Affairs Director of Strategic Initiatives Andrea Kern (far right) and Chief of Staff for the Lieutenant Governor’s Office Anne Valentine (second from right) at the Statehouse on June 23, 2022.
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