Huntington County to Participate in Rural Empowerment and Development Program
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced on Tuesday, December 3rd that Huntington County was selected to participate in the Rural Empowerment and Development (RED) program. Huntington is among four Indiana communities selected for the capacity-building and planning program created by OCRA and the Indiana Communities Institute at Ball State University.
“We are grateful to have been selected for the OCRA RED program, which offers an exciting opportunity for the community,” noted Erik Long, Elevate Huntington County Program Director. “Our team, comprised of representatives from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors across the county, brings a well-rounded perspective to this initiative. This program is designed to strengthen collaboration across Huntington County and develop projects with lasting impact. We look forward to leveraging the expertise provided by OCRA and the Indiana Communities Institute to achieve these goals.”
The initiative is designed to help communities build capacity by expanding on previous community development efforts and incorporating innovative new approaches. It offers hands-on, relevant and productive experiences tailored for communities looking to elevate their economic development vision through local collaboration.
The Community Foundation of Huntington County is proud to have served as the applying organization and is eager to collaborate alongside Elevate Huntington County and various community-centered entities.
"As the saying goes, good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets preparation," said Matt Ditzler, Executive Director of the Community Foundation. "RED is an investment of time and resources aimed at addressing our county’s greatest challenges and opportunities. We’re excited to roll up our sleeves and dive into this work in 2025."
The additional participating communities include Cass County, Fulton County and Orange County. Throughout the program, each participating community will identify and develop between five and 15 actionable projects. Expert guidance and coaching will be provided to each project team to assist with successful implementation. Each participating local team will undergo a four- to six-month program tailored to their specific needs.
For more information on the Rural Empowerment and Development program, visit in.gov/ocra/red.