Posted on July 20, 2019
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The Town of North Judson may see some park upgrades and downtown beautification projects, if the Constellation of Starke region is designated a Stellar Community. Clerk-Treasurer Andrew Rowe says he gave an update on the group’s efforts during Monday’s town council meeting.
“We have our comprehensive plan that HWC Engineering is doing,” he explains, “and DLZ is doing the regional plan with the the Stellar group directly, that the town also has a hand in.”
He says the regional plan calls for improvements to the Town Park, as well as Norwayne Field. Meanwhile, the comprehensive plan specific to the town will likely include some recommendations for revitalization. “HWC’s comprehensive’s planning more has a look towards our downtown streetscapes, revitalization, beautification, and that area,” Rowe adds. “So they’re sort of split along parks and more of our downtown streetscapes and revitalization.”
Constellation of Starke is one of four finalist regions for this year’s Stellar designation. The winner is scheduled to be announced in December.
Showing posts with label Stellar Community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stellar Community. Show all posts
Monday, July 22, 2019
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Constellation of Starke Submits Letter of Intent for Stellar Designation
Posted on April 13, 2019
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Starke County has turned in its letter of intent for a Stellar Community designation. Constellation of Starke’s paperwork was submitted to the state by the April 5 deadline, according to Ron Gifford with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation.
He told the Hamlet Town Council Wednesday, “I ran into [Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs Northwest Liaison] Gerry White last night at another meeting, and he indicated that those five or six agencies that are included in the Stellar all had started meeting on Monday to go over however many they got. And I didn’t inquire as to how many; I didn’t think he’d probably tell me, anyway. They will be working on that quickly, and some announcement will be made either at the end of this month or early May, as to who the finalists might be for this year.”
The Constellation of Starke region is made up of Knox, Hamlet, and North Judson, as well as the county government itself. A Stellar designation makes regions eligible for millions of dollars in grant funding, along with help for planning and project development.
Gifford recognized Starke County Community Foundation Director of Development Jessica Martinović for putting the letter of intent together and submitting it to the state.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Starke County has turned in its letter of intent for a Stellar Community designation. Constellation of Starke’s paperwork was submitted to the state by the April 5 deadline, according to Ron Gifford with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation.
He told the Hamlet Town Council Wednesday, “I ran into [Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs Northwest Liaison] Gerry White last night at another meeting, and he indicated that those five or six agencies that are included in the Stellar all had started meeting on Monday to go over however many they got. And I didn’t inquire as to how many; I didn’t think he’d probably tell me, anyway. They will be working on that quickly, and some announcement will be made either at the end of this month or early May, as to who the finalists might be for this year.”
The Constellation of Starke region is made up of Knox, Hamlet, and North Judson, as well as the county government itself. A Stellar designation makes regions eligible for millions of dollars in grant funding, along with help for planning and project development.
Gifford recognized Starke County Community Foundation Director of Development Jessica Martinović for putting the letter of intent together and submitting it to the state.
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Officials in Starke County Take Some More Stellar Steps with Asset Mapping Workshop
Posted on October 10, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
The Starke County Economic Development Foundation hosted an asset mapping workshop in conjunction with representatives from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs Tuesday night.
Stellar Community Project Manager Michael Sinnet facilitated the exercise which was held at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center. Over the last few months, SCEDF officials have been working with town, city and county representatives about a local Stellar initiative.
Sinnet mentioned that it’s important to see who is already a part of the conversation and then to identify which portion’s of the community aren’t currently being represented. He emphasized that community coordination is fundamental during this process.
Sinnet told attendees, “Any development plan, any community plan that moves forward, you have to ask yourself one of two things; are you doing this TO a community or are you doing this WITH a community?”
Sinnet noted that the ideas raised during the workshop would eventually be expanded upon and incorporated into a regional development plan.
He said a regional development plan would need to be submitted to OCRA in the event that Starke County’s group is selected as a finalist in next year’s grant round.
However, he also mentioned that, regardless of whether a Stellar designation is received, developing this type of plan lays the groundwork for years of future development and continued collaboration.
More details from the asset mapping workshop will be covered in future stories on WKVI.
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
The Starke County Economic Development Foundation hosted an asset mapping workshop in conjunction with representatives from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs Tuesday night.
Stellar Community Project Manager Michael Sinnet facilitated the exercise which was held at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center. Over the last few months, SCEDF officials have been working with town, city and county representatives about a local Stellar initiative.
Sinnet mentioned that it’s important to see who is already a part of the conversation and then to identify which portion’s of the community aren’t currently being represented. He emphasized that community coordination is fundamental during this process.
Sinnet told attendees, “Any development plan, any community plan that moves forward, you have to ask yourself one of two things; are you doing this TO a community or are you doing this WITH a community?”
Sinnet noted that the ideas raised during the workshop would eventually be expanded upon and incorporated into a regional development plan.
He said a regional development plan would need to be submitted to OCRA in the event that Starke County’s group is selected as a finalist in next year’s grant round.
However, he also mentioned that, regardless of whether a Stellar designation is received, developing this type of plan lays the groundwork for years of future development and continued collaboration.
More details from the asset mapping workshop will be covered in future stories on WKVI.
Thursday, July 19, 2018
Hamlet Council Joins Starke County’s Stellar Communities Application
Posted on July 19, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The Town of Hamlet is joining Starke County’s effort to become a Stellar Community. The county government plans to team up with the county’s three incorporated municipalities to apply for a regional Stellar designation in 2019. The Hamlet Town Council voted Wednesday to move forward with the process, along with the rest of the county.
Council member Brian Earnest said he read about the program and discussed it with community members, as well as Knox Mayor Dennis Estok. “It seems to be that every town and even some of the different people are going forward with this within the community,” Earnest said, “and I think it’s something that the whole county should be behind, honestly.”
A Stellar Community designation would likely bring millions of dollars in state funding to the county, through grant opportunities with a smaller local match. Before joining the application, though, Hamlet would have to complete a five-year comprehensive plan. That’s expected to cost the town about $5,000.
Meanwhile, the Starke County Economic Development Foundation plans to hold a second informational session for local officials on August 15, according to Special Projects Coordinator Ron Gifford. “Gerry White from OCRA, our representative there, is bringing somebody else from OCRA that deals just with Stellar Communities to talk about what the next steps are, what to expect, what’s needed from each one of the communities that’s involved,” Gifford told the Hamlet Town Council. “And we’ll just talk about where everybody is in the process.”
In addition to Hamlet, the Starke County Commissioners and the North Judson Town Council have also taken action to join in the application. The Knox City Council has not taken a formal vote yet.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The Town of Hamlet is joining Starke County’s effort to become a Stellar Community. The county government plans to team up with the county’s three incorporated municipalities to apply for a regional Stellar designation in 2019. The Hamlet Town Council voted Wednesday to move forward with the process, along with the rest of the county.
Council member Brian Earnest said he read about the program and discussed it with community members, as well as Knox Mayor Dennis Estok. “It seems to be that every town and even some of the different people are going forward with this within the community,” Earnest said, “and I think it’s something that the whole county should be behind, honestly.”
A Stellar Community designation would likely bring millions of dollars in state funding to the county, through grant opportunities with a smaller local match. Before joining the application, though, Hamlet would have to complete a five-year comprehensive plan. That’s expected to cost the town about $5,000.
Meanwhile, the Starke County Economic Development Foundation plans to hold a second informational session for local officials on August 15, according to Special Projects Coordinator Ron Gifford. “Gerry White from OCRA, our representative there, is bringing somebody else from OCRA that deals just with Stellar Communities to talk about what the next steps are, what to expect, what’s needed from each one of the communities that’s involved,” Gifford told the Hamlet Town Council. “And we’ll just talk about where everybody is in the process.”
In addition to Hamlet, the Starke County Commissioners and the North Judson Town Council have also taken action to join in the application. The Knox City Council has not taken a formal vote yet.
Monday, July 16, 2018
Starke Park Board Discusses Stellar Communities Application, Bass Lake Beach Restrooms
Posted on July 16, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
A Stellar Community designation could be a way to bring improvements to the Bass Lake Beach. That was the suggestion given to the Starke County Park Board last week.
It came up when board member Butch Gerstandt asked if there were any plans to remodel the bathrooms in the beach house. Assistant Manager Larry Clarich and Board President Roger Chaffins felt that any such upgrades would be up to the county rather than the facility’s operator.
That’s when Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler suggested that the park board may want to get involved with the county’s Stellar application. He pointed out that the park board already has a five-year plan, and that the designation would bring grant opportunities with a smaller local match.
County Attorney Marty Lucas said the effort will depend on the results of a county income survey that began last week. “Really, we won’t know whether we’ll be able to go any further. We’re hopeful on that,” he said. “It seems like we should qualify. It’s hard to believe that there’s a grant for which Starke County is too wealthy. But officially, so far, it is. So we have to actually prove that it’s not.”
In the meantime, board member Rosemary Rose said there may be other resources available to upgrade the Bass Lake Beach House restrooms. “Places like Lowe’s and so forth, they will – if you fill out an application, if you need your bathroom set up for handicap accessibility,” she said. “They redid the bathrooms in the North Judson Legion, they redid the bathrooms in the Knox Legion, anything that’s nonprofit. Lowe’s and Menards both have those available, and it doesn’t have to come from the county. They will donate the money.”
County officials are eyeing a regional Stellar Community application for the 2019 designation cycle.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
A Stellar Community designation could be a way to bring improvements to the Bass Lake Beach. That was the suggestion given to the Starke County Park Board last week.
It came up when board member Butch Gerstandt asked if there were any plans to remodel the bathrooms in the beach house. Assistant Manager Larry Clarich and Board President Roger Chaffins felt that any such upgrades would be up to the county rather than the facility’s operator.
That’s when Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler suggested that the park board may want to get involved with the county’s Stellar application. He pointed out that the park board already has a five-year plan, and that the designation would bring grant opportunities with a smaller local match.
County Attorney Marty Lucas said the effort will depend on the results of a county income survey that began last week. “Really, we won’t know whether we’ll be able to go any further. We’re hopeful on that,” he said. “It seems like we should qualify. It’s hard to believe that there’s a grant for which Starke County is too wealthy. But officially, so far, it is. So we have to actually prove that it’s not.”
In the meantime, board member Rosemary Rose said there may be other resources available to upgrade the Bass Lake Beach House restrooms. “Places like Lowe’s and so forth, they will – if you fill out an application, if you need your bathroom set up for handicap accessibility,” she said. “They redid the bathrooms in the North Judson Legion, they redid the bathrooms in the Knox Legion, anything that’s nonprofit. Lowe’s and Menards both have those available, and it doesn’t have to come from the county. They will donate the money.”
County officials are eyeing a regional Stellar Community application for the 2019 designation cycle.
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Starke County to Look into Regional Stellar Communities Designation Application
Posted on May 29, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Starke County officials will look to see what it takes to become a Regional Stellar Community.
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Larry Wickert asked the commissioners last week if they’d be willing to get things started in applying to become a Stellar Community.
“It’s a hard thing to get, but I think it would be good for us to make that effort,” said Wickert. “The communities seem to be interested. One thing is we need to know is if the county would be willing to look at it and set a meeting, have Jerry White come out, and the community and the county could come together and discuss what all would be involved to see if we can get a consensus.”
The commissioners agreed that it could help the towns of North Judson and Hamlet, the City of Knox and the unincorporated areas in the county including Bass Lake and Koontz Lake and the many townships.
Wickert will be arranging a meeting soon to get details on how to get started and what costs would be involved in moving forward with the application.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Starke County officials will look to see what it takes to become a Regional Stellar Community.
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Larry Wickert asked the commissioners last week if they’d be willing to get things started in applying to become a Stellar Community.
“It’s a hard thing to get, but I think it would be good for us to make that effort,” said Wickert. “The communities seem to be interested. One thing is we need to know is if the county would be willing to look at it and set a meeting, have Jerry White come out, and the community and the county could come together and discuss what all would be involved to see if we can get a consensus.”
The commissioners agreed that it could help the towns of North Judson and Hamlet, the City of Knox and the unincorporated areas in the county including Bass Lake and Koontz Lake and the many townships.
Wickert will be arranging a meeting soon to get details on how to get started and what costs would be involved in moving forward with the application.
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