Indiana Counties Teaming Up To Win $42M State Grants

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Counties around Indiana are starting to form coalitions in an effort to win a pair of state grants worth $42 million.

WNDU-TV reports that the counties are establishing Regional Development Authorities to compete for the grants. Elkhart, Marshall and St. Joseph counties have teamed up, and so have 11 counties around Fort Wayne.

The president of the Michiana Partnership says each grant is a 20 percent co-investment into larger portfolio projects totaling $210 million in investments.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed legislation in May creating the Regional Cities Initiative. The new program will allow the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to award grants or loans to regional groups for infrastructure or amenity projects that could help attract businesses and people to those areas.