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Huntington trails project gets $255K grant

The board of the Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) voted to support the City of Huntington’s Little River Trail project with a grant of $255,748 in Regional Cities Initiative funding on Tuesday, Aug. 16.

The grant amount represents 20 percent of the $1.053 million of the project’s total cost

Details about the project include:

Construction of 4,124 feet or .78 miles of multi-use trails.

Streetscape improvements along Riverside Drive.

Wayfinding signage.

A pavilion and resting node near the Erie Rail Trail Bridge.

Other trail amenities.

The board’s recommendation now goes to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) for review and final approval of the funding request.

The RDA is responsible for disbursement of the $42 million in funding granted to the region through the Regional Cities Initiative established last year.

The purpose of the Regional Cities Initiative funding is to attract and retain talent by providing financial support for game-changing quality of place projects that will increase economic growth, lead to population growth and enhance the region’s national brand identity, note RDC officials.. Northeast Indiana won the Regional Cities grant last year with its Road to One Million plan that outlines more than 70 projects and $1.5 billion in investment over the next 10 years.

“From growing our region’s downtowns to connecting our trails, the Little River Trail project is a creative example of the region’s progressive lead-ership on the Road to One Million. We are building a region of one million people and it takes inventive projects like this one to get us there by 2031,” said RDA Board Chairman Jeff Turner, the senior vice president of Metal Technologies.

The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, which helped lead the effort to secure the Regional Cities Initiative funding, also provides staffing support to the RDA.

“The Little River Trail project is a centerpiece for downtown Huntington as it will connect three counties along the Wabash River. It’s a critical project that connects the charming downtown to the expansive regional trail network. The RDA’s approval of funding is a progressive step to building a strong, healthy and connected Northeast Indiana,” said Michael Galbraith, director of the Road to One Million.

The board also heard a presentation from Manchester Early Learning Center, which requested $520,000 for a new learning center, which is 20 percent of the $2.6 million of the project’s total cost.
To learn more about the Road to One Million, visit the website at www.neindiana.com/regionalcities.