News and Stories

Windmills

Community Listening Session

Purdue Extension was selected by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to co-host a community listening session on end-of-service...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: How Much Will Homeowner Property Tax Bills Rise in 2024?

Last year Indiana homeowners were hit with property tax bill increases averaging 17 percent, an extraordinary increase. Will it happen again in...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: Farmland Property Taxes May Keep Increasing

The memo was posted at the end of December, on the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance website. It announced the base rate for farmland...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: Taking Inflation Apart

Since then inflation has come down a lot. As of November 2023, prices were 3.1 percent higher than a year before. That’s good news. 

Purdue Extension.

Helping Those Most in Need

As we enter the 'holiday season,' I encourage you to reflect on how you can make a positive difference in the lives of those who need...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: How Much Will Homeowner Property Taxes Rise in 2024?

The second installment for 2023 property taxes was due earlier this month. If you’re a homeowner, either you sent a check to your county...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: How Can a Homeowner Calculate the Cost of a School Referendum?

Election Day is coming up, and 12 Indiana school districts have put property tax referendums on the ballot. Voters who own homes will want to know,...

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How Do States Manage Without Individual Income Taxes?

Indiana has an individual income tax to help pay for state services. Indiana raises about $8 billion a year from its state income tax, which is 36%...

Purdue Extension.

How Are YOU Doing?

How Are YOU Doing? Last week, I had the opportunity to present in Perry County, Indiana – a place I like to think of as a home away from...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: Supply Chain Pressure is Easing, and so is Inflation

The 12-month inflation rate began to rise in early 2021 and peaked at 8.9 percent in June 2022. Since then it’s fallen to 3.3 percent. Not so...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: Indiana State Balances and the Pension Stabilization Fund

The Indiana fiscal new year is upon us, having begun on July 1. The big New Year’s celebration happened on July 13, with the...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: Will the Inflation Rate Keep Falling?

Inflation is coming down. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, which measures the Consumer Price Index, reported the 12-month inflation rate for May at...

Total Eclipse in Indiana 2024

Total Eclipse 2024 Resource Hub

On April 8, 2024 much of Indiana will experience a total solar eclipse with the path of totality covering much of southern and central Indiana.

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: The General Assembly Delivers Some Property Tax Relief

Indiana homeowner tax bills increased 17 percent on average this year, the largest increase in years. Other property owners saw big increases too....

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Looking to the Sky

In 2012, I served as president-elect of the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP).

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: An Extra Billion and a Half in State Revenue

The state revenue forecast upped its prediction of revenues for the rest of this fiscal year and the coming biennium, 2023-25, by $1.5 billion over...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: Property Tax Bills are Increasing a Lot in 2023

Indiana county treasurers soon will mail property tax bills to owners of homes, rental housing, farmland, and businesses. Most will see big...

fiber cable

Thinking Broadly About Broadband

Nearly eighty-seven years ago, on May 20, 1936, the Rural Electrification Act was passed. At the time, an estimated ninety percent of farms in...

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Beginner’s Tips for Drafting Grant Budgets

If there’s a phrase from Purdue Extension’s Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing workshop that solicits the most fear and...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: Solar Energy Projects and Property Taxes

Utilities are building a lot of solar energy projects in Indiana. Fields of solar panels will become a common part of our landscape. This may help...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: Farmland Property Tax Misery Has Company

Farmland assessments for property taxes are going up.  So are home, rental housing and business assessments. Property tax misery has a lot of...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: State Revenue Growth Will Return to Normal

Thursday, December 15, was a much-anticipated day at the Indiana Statehouse. It was Revenue Forecast Day, when the General Assembly heard the...

firework

A Pledge for the New Year

A standard best practice in recruiting members to any community board is to provide them with a written role description to give them a good...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: Holiday Inflation Cheer

The holidays are here. Time for good cheer and happy thoughts, even if candy canes and sugar plums cost 7.8 percent more this year than last.

thank you card

Giving Thanks to Funders: Tips for Being a Good Steward

If you find yourself in the fortunate situation of needing to thank a funder for awarding a grant proposal that you’ve submitted, note that...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: Cost of Living Adjustments

Inflation has been so low for so long that we hardly noticed them. Now inflation is the highest it’s been in 40 years, and COLAs are in the...

group of people outside with shovels

Finding Hope. How I Discovered Compassion and Perseverance, Tucked Away in Rolling Hills

In 2018, Bo Beaulieu and Alison Davis decided to write a grant to USDA-Rural Development for the new Rural Economic Development Innovation...

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Purdue Extension Educators Share Facilitation Skills with Faculty from Andhra University

On September 20, Regional Community Development Educators Tanya Hall and Steve Yoder led a daylong workshop on verbal facilitation skills for a...

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Capital Comments: The Housing Market is Cooling Off

The Federal Reserve is serious about battling inflation. They’ve raised their policy interest rate from near zero in February to an average...

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Three Rookie Mistakes That Can Make or Break Your Grant Proposal

The thought of writing a grant proposal can be intimidating for folks who are new to the process. There are multiple steps involved, multiple...

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From Networking to Collaboration, From Buy-in to Active Engagement

Back in March 2020, we were entering into the unknown. The pandemic was taking hold, and everyone across the globe was trying to determine the...

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Capital Comments: Is this a Recession?

Is this a recession? Real gross domestic product has dropped for two straight quarters. Real GDP is our measure of goods and services produced,...

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Creating A Digital Ready Business

The Purdue Extension Digital Ready program is designed to help small businesses learn to leverage online tools and services to grow their business....

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Love Will Keep Us Together

Many years ago, I found myself in the crosshairs of my supervisor. It is a long, funny, and touching story about falling in love, learning to adapt...

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Five Ways to Connect with Grant Makers

Most grant applications can now be completed online with little, if any, personal interaction between the grant seeker and the grant funder....

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: $6 Billion in Balances

Mid-July is number-cruncher nirvana if you follow the Indiana state budget. That’s when the State Budget Agency releases its closeout for the...

Capital Comments, Indiana state capital in background

Inflation and Indiana School District Budgets

The inflation rate in May was 8.6 percent, the highest since the bad old days of the Great Inflation 40 years ago. We’re all paying higher...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: Shocked and Not Shocked by Home Assessments

Every year about this time homeowners receive a Form 11 from their county assessor. It’s the notice of assessment of land and structures, and...

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NACDEP – Creating Connections at Every Crossroad

Creating Connections at Every Crossroad: Purdue Extension Community Development Program Supports the National Association of Community Development...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: The Residential Share of Property Taxes is on the Rise

Here’s one way to think about property taxes: The local government sets its budget, subtracts all other tax revenue, and raises the remainder...

Purdue Extension.

BR&E Next Steps

Over the past several months, my column has provided an overview of all five of the Business Retention & Expansion Program (BR&E) modules...

training

Purdue Pilots Training Sessions for County Extension Boards

In April, Purdue Extension began piloting a series of training sessions for county extension boards across Indiana. The goal is to gather feedback...

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We All Come From Somewhere – Part 2

Last month, I offered a glimpse into our Purdue Study Abroad trip to Ireland focused on rural development. Our planned activities exceeded our...

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Workshops to Improve your Business’ Online Presence and Increase Sales

In 2017, Extension Community Development and the Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD) sought a way to help Indiana small businesses...

Purdue Extension.

Welcome Andrea! County Extension Educator in Boone County

Andrea grew up on a very traditional farm in southern Indiana. They raised corn, soybeans, and wheat, as well as Angus and Hereford cattle. Her...

Purdue Extension.

The Final Report

Ribbon cuttings with large gold scissors often celebrate the wins of communities as businesses open. What steps are taken as companies add...

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We All Come From Somewhere – Part 1

Last month I had the privilege of co-leading a Study Abroad to the Republic of Ireland with twelve exceptional Purdue undergraduate students. Along...

grant writing

So, What’s Your Big Idea? Crafting a Solid Project Description for Your Next Grant Proposal

If you’ve ever written a community grant proposal, you’ve discovered that most applications have a standard set of sections that you...

More Wind Farm

Purdue Extension releases Indiana renewable energy survey results

Indiana communities are facing complex land-use planning decisions, specifically in regards to renewable energy. To assist communities, Purdue...

Purdue Extension.

Analyze Results

Driving across dusty country roads, we often find tattered traffic signs, including old detour signs that invite us to create a new path or stay on...

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Goal, Objective, Outcome, or Impact? Understanding the Differences When Drafting a Grant Proposal

Most community-related grant applications have a section asking for a description of the changes expected within a community if the proposal were...

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An Ode to Humility

There was a time when communities, and the people living in them, solved pressing issues using dialogue. Yes, there were moments when dialogue did...

Purdue Extension.

Welcome Jeff! County Extension Educator in Dearborn County

Jeff Hermesch is the Agriculture & Natural Resources and Community Development Extension Educator in Dearborn County, Indiana.

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: What Will Happen to Inflation?

The inflation rate was 7.5 percent from January 2021 to January 2022, the highest inflation in 40 years. It arrived suddenly and unexpectedly. A...

Purdue Extension.

Gaining Community Support

What does it mean to live and belong to a community? By definition, belonging to a community requires an affinity for that community and having the...

Purdue Extension.

Gather Information

Knock! Knock! The wrapping of knuckles on the large, dark door frame bellows down the corridor of the distillery. The distillery marks the history...

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Comes A Time

The answer to this question depends on your circumstances and your point of view. Those who are content with how things are may find little...

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Yes, but Is It a Community Need? Frame Your Grant Proposals to Clearly Benefit the Community

Whenever I facilitate Purdue Extension’s Guide to Grant Writing workshop, there is usually a participant seeking funding to buy equipment for...

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CWC Franklin County Collaboration

Our CWC, Becky Marvel, has been working collaboratively with the Franklin County Purdue Extension Office as well as the Franklin Co. Library to...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: Farmland Assessments will Increase for Taxes in 2023

Farmland property taxes have been falling. Total property taxes paid by agricultural property owners fell 2.3 percent per year from 2017 to 2021,...

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Purdue Extension Community Development 2022

The New Year represents the opportunity for people to make resolutions and envision what the year might bring. We have dispensed with the...

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Information, Discussion, or Decision? Add this column to your agendas for more effective meetings

If you are like me, you appreciate meetings where it feels like the group “got something done” by the time it adjourned. On the other...

Purdue Extension.

The American Citizen Planner – Looking Back & Planning Ahead

Since its adaptation by a subcommittee of the Purdue Land Use Team in 2019, the ACP-IN Signature Program has completed four successful sessions in...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: What Happens to Property Taxes During Inflation?

The property tax is the biggest source of tax revenue for most Indiana local governments, and they were worried about the effect of the COVID...

Purdue Extension.

Belonging and Making a Difference in a New Year

Last month I discussed a personal journey involving lifelong learning and giving thanks. This month, I am looking forward to the New Year by...

Purdue Extension.

Assembling the BR&E Task Force

Three-legged stools are important concepts in economic development. Communities need attraction, retention and expansion by their companies so that...

Purdue Extension.

Strengthen your Grant Proposals through Community Collaborations

In the world of grant writing, funders often look for ways to get the biggest bang for the buck. In other words, they’re looking to fund...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: We Finally Know How the Recession Will Affect Property Taxes

What will be the effect of the COVID recession on the property taxes that fund Indiana local governments? I’ve been thinking and writing...

Lifelong learning

Lifelong Learning and Giving Thanks

Cooperative Extension was founded as a resource for lifelong learning for people throughout the United States. To be successful, lifelong learners...

Purdue Extension.

Business Retention and Expansion

America is scattered with small companies, and they compose the culture that defines our communities. A business retention and expansion program is...

Purdue Extension.

Welcome Dallas! New County Extension Educator in Marion County

Dallas Evans is a native Hoosier and was raised in the small town of Grabill, Indiana. He went on to study at Ball State University and graduated...

Purdue Extension.

Take Time to Celebrate! Don’t Overlook this Motivating Step in Board Development

Over the past two months, I’ve had the pleasure of working with a non-profit organization’s board of directors from the Caribbean...

modern city with lake and fountain

One Water Approach to Water Resources Management (ID-525-W) – Leslie Dorworth, Melissa Widhalm, Kara Salazar

Climate change is spotlighting the importance of managing water resources. Building on previous work (ID-524-W, ID-520-W, ID-519-W), in this...

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Climate Change and Sustainable Development (ID-524-W) – Melissa Widhalm, Kara Salazar, Leslie Dorworth

Energy-intensive development practices contribute to increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which are leading to shifting climate...

ID-520-W

Are you preparing for it? (ID-520-W) – Melissa Widhalm, Kara Salazar, Leslie Dorworth

This publication provides an overview of how changing climate conditions will affect Indiana and the Midwest and offers sensible strategies for...

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Communication strategies to support local planning (ID-519-W) – Melissa Widhalm, Leslie Dorworth, Kara Salazar

Despite strong evidence that climate change is happening, many people do not realize the urgency with which we need to act, nor do they fully...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: Birth Rates Have Been Falling for a Long Time

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Purdue Extension Impact Report- 2020

Fayette County Purdue Extension was featured in the 2020 Extension Annual Report for the hard being done in our community to food resources and...

Purdue Extension.

Community Development Can Help Build Cultural Competence

How effective am I at working across cultural differences? Do others see me as culturally competent? One of the key frameworks of the Navigating...

Purdue Extension.

What (and Who) to Believe?

As Community Development Extension professionals, we are constantly asked by communities to provide technical assistance and guidance on how to...

Purdue Extension.

Investing in Company Culture

When it comes to business success, focusing on survival often trumps focusing on mission and vision. However, research reminds us that...

Purdue Extension.

The Care & Feeding of the Board: The Case for Creating a Governance Committee

Many years ago, a mentor of mine, who was helping me develop the structure of a non-profit board, mentioned something that stuck with me. “Of...

Purdue Extension.

Welcome Claire Crum

Claire Crum is the new National EDEN Assistant Project Coordinator. She will assist in coordinating a variety of special projects in support of...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: What Three Forecasts Say About Our Economic Future

Where is our economy going? Let’s ask some folks whose job it is to forecast the future of the U.S. economy. How about looking at three...

Purdue Extension.

This Must Be the Place

On the other end of the line is Erin Emerson, Executive Director of the Perry County Development Corporation. Then, the Talking Heads song flows...

Purdue Extension.

The Priority is People

Over the course of time, most companies develop and establish a set of priorities – either intentionally or unintentionally – from...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: Last Year’s Recession Hits Indiana Local Governments Next Year

The National Bureau of Economic Research is our quasi-official umpire of recessions and expansions. Last year it marked the peak of the last...

Purdue Extension.

Extension Webinar Series – Learning about Workforce Development

A team of Extension educators invites you to participate in a 4-part series about workforce development. Extension has an active role in this...

Purdue Extension.

Register for the Fall 2021 Cohort: Community Coaching Learning Circle

Purdue Extension Community Development is offering a professional development opportunity for individuals interested in honing their community...

Purdue Extension.

Employee Wellness Programs Increase Health & Prosperity

Businesses have encouraged employees to take a part in their own health for decades. As society has gradually become more health-conscious,...

Purdue Extension.

All it Takes Is One “Dotty” Idea

A few months ago, I was contemplating revolution. Today, I am in a more reflective state of mind. Perhaps it was our family vacation, offering a...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: Reasons to Celebrate the Indiana Fiscal New Year

Happy belated New Year, everyone! I mean the Indiana Fiscal New Year 2022, which started on July 1. The State Budget Agency celebrates the event...

Purdue Extension.

The Value of Good Facilitation

Do you help lead groups to accomplish complex tasks and make participatory decisions? Whether you are leading a visioning process, supporting a...

Purdue Extension.

July/August 2021 Newsletter

Please read the newsletter carefully as it has very important information about the fair and other events that are coming up!

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: What Kind of Inflation Problem Do We Have?

In May the consumer price index was 4.9% higher than it was 12 months before. The last time we saw an inflation rate that high was July 2008. The...

Purdue Extension.

Community Leadership Program of Cass County 2021

The Community Leadership Program of Cass County 2021 will run from September 1st through February 23rd. The program brochure and application can be...

Purdue Extension.

Go From “Survive” to “Thrive” in 2021

Business owners in 2021 have witnessed many aspects of operations change over the past 24 months. The small business space is always changing, but...

Purdue Extension.

Registration Open! Community Coaching Learning Circle

Purdue Extension Community Development is offering a professional development opportunity for individuals interested in honing their community...

Purdue Extension.

But Who’s Watching the Board?

Community Boards of Directors are tasked with many responsibilities, from creating a mission statement to raising funds in support of that mission....

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: A State Revenue Forecast for the Ages

On April 15, toward the end of the 2021 session of the Indiana General Assembly, the State Budget Committee heard the revised revenue forecast. It...

Purdue Extension.

Open Class Handbook 2021

The Open Class Handbook is now available! Please read it carefully to catch up with project changes!

Webinar

NCRCRD Webinar: Programs, Partnerships, and Pathways: Opportunities for the North Central Region

Webinar Video >> Date: April 27 from 2pm-3:30pm (ET) Description: The NCRCRD is introducing new funding and partnership opportunities...

Purdue Extension.

New Member Orientation: A Simple, Effective Way to Improve Board Performance

Community Boards of Directors are tasked with many responsibilities, from creating a mission statement to raising funds in support of that mission....

Purdue Extension.

“Save the Date” for Indiana’s Land Use Summit

When I speak to community leaders throughout Indiana as part of Purdue Extension’s Community Leadership Program, I will often ask...

Purdue Extension.

Against All Odds: One Business’s Pandemic Survival Story

Driven by the work ethic her mother instilled in her, Sherri Bryant established Team Bryant six years ago when she moved to Indianapolis. She...

Purdue Extension.

You Say You Want a Revolution?

I must be getting old. My mind seems to receive input and then I immediately associate that input with a song which – more often than not...

Purdue Extension.

May-June Newsletter

Attached is the May-June Newsletter. Please make sure to read ALL of the newsletter to stay up to date with very important information about...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: Pent-Up Demand, Then and Now

What can history teach us about the demand for goods and services post-pandemic? Larry Deboer knows.

Drawing of park layout

Students help design recovery center

A rendering in the office of Erin Belgarde, Strategic Planning Coordinator for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (TMBCI) in Rolette...

Purdue Extension.

Running on Empty

Purdue Extension.

The Project for Public Spaces

As we begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, how do we re-engage community through inclusive public spaces? The Project for Public Spaces has...

Purdue Extension.

Rural Indiana Stats Website

When you’re looking to make data-driven decisions for local government financing, don’t overlook a great tool from the Purdue Center...

Purdue Extension.

Remote Work Certification

Before the pandemic, a digital media company in Denver with 100 employees, was embarking on an expansion to double its size. On March 11, 2020,...

Purdue Extension.

Consider the Consent Agenda for More Productive Board Meetings

These participants from Purdue Extension’s Community Leadership Program were talking about their experiences using—and learning...

Unloading boxes from a truck together

A comprehensive approach to community development

In 2018, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation study on county health rankings reported that Fayette County ranked 92nd — the least healthy county...

Forest with fallen leaves

Building over time

Erin Emerson, Executive Director of the Perry County Development Corporation, knows community change doesn’t happen overnight. But with...

Capital Comments

Capital Comments: It's Tax Season. Where Do Your Local Taxes Go?

Tax season is coming up. Federal income taxes are due on May 17th this year. The due date for Indiana’s state and local income taxes remains...

Creek

Actively managing natural resources

Conservation through Community Leadership is bringing different interest groups together to plan the future of Cedar Creek, which flows 31.9 miles...

Purdue Extension.

Fast Start Program

Attention ALL High School Students - Did you know Purdue wants to help you become a Boilermaker?! Giving Indiana students another pathway to...

Purdue Extension.

The Future is Female

I was looking back at my blog post from August 2020 where I was reflecting on my first year as Assistant Director and Program Leader. In...

Purdue Extension.

Visit the Intercultural Learning Hub

The Intercultural Learning Hub (HubICL), powered by HUBzero® [1], is an online collaborative space for researchers, educators, and...

Purdue Extension.

Switch It Up! Doing the Pandemic Pivot by Exploring New Resources

The Pandemic has required instrumental and pivotal business adjustments in the economic landscape of companies. Traditional norms have been...

Purdue Extension.

Recruit, Engage, Renew, Repeat: Embracing the Board Development Cycle

I can’t resist a good presentation graphic. Whenever I find an illustration that nicely captures a thought, theme, or theory, I’m all...

Purdue Extension.

Welcome Katje! New CD Educator joins Tippecanoe County Purdue Extension

Katje Armentrout grew up in a small, rural community in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula – right in the middle of the mitt! She attended...

Purdue Extension.

Capital Comments: Okun, Phillips and Our Economy

If you want to be remembered in economics, get yourself a curve. There’s the Lorenz curve, the Laffer curve, the Kuznets curve, and, probably...

Purdue Extension.

2021 Handbook

Attached is the 2021 Handbook. Please use it to reference for project guidelines and livestock requirements.

Dry erase marker

Navigating grant proposals

Securing a financial grant can boost community initiatives that will launch a new program or build upon an existing one. The Purdue Extension...

Large group meeting

Connecting across diversity

“How do we expand our community’s leadership base?” “How do we get the next generation involved?” “When new...

Extension Award Winners

Purdue Extension: Training Community Leaders

Community development is just one area where Purdue Extension provides research-based education in all 92 Indiana counties. As a signature program...

Purdue Extension.

Get A C.L.U.E.!

You may have noticed a trend if you have been reading my blog in the Purdue Extension Community Development Newsletter, I spend a lot of time...

Purdue Extension.

Unleashing the Power of the Introverts in the Room

Anywhere from 30-50% of you reading this column may often identify with this situation: You are driving home from a community board or committee...

Purdue Extension.

Happy Retirement! We will miss you!

He is well-known in the Indianapolis area as the “guru” of urban community development and leadership training. He is passionate about...

Purdue Extension.

Business Retention and Expansion

COVID-era technology allows workers to accept positions virtually anywhere, and anywhere virtually.  For that reason, individuals can choose...

Purdue Extension.

Time for Some Accounting

The end of one year and the beginning of a new one inevitably results in two things: top ten lists that retrospectively examine the “best...

Purdue Extension.

Orange County Program Graduates 14 Community Leaders

Purdue Extension.

American Citizen Planner Opens Spring 2021 Registration

Purdue Extension and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant will open registration for American Citizen Planner – Indiana, an online training course for...

Purdue Extension.

Polishing Your Proposals: Insider Tips from the Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing Program

As an instructor for the Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing program, one of my favorite things to do is ask participants to share a memorable...

Purdue Extension.

A Legacy of Leadership

As I write this brief column, I do so with some sadness since I will be officially retiring from Purdue on Feb. 1, 2021. When I came to Purdue in...

Purdue Extension.

How Emotionally Intelligent Are You?

As you reflect on 2020 and embark on 2021, consider how you relate to others. How often have you judged an experience or a situation only to arrive...

Purdue Extension.

Welcome Kayla Wright – Marion County Educator

Kayla hails originally from Ft. Wayne, Ind. Her first official day (Monday, Dec. 7) as a Community Development Extension Educator happened to fall...

Purdue Extension.

Capital Comments: The State Revenue Forecast: We Might be OK

Can it be, is it possible, that 2021 won’t be terrible? The state revenue forecast was released on December 16 to provide a starting point...

Purdue Extension.

Poised to Pivot

Regardless of what industry you are in, the prevailing question now is: How can your company survive the COVID-19 “new normal” we are...

Purdue Extension.

New American Citizen Planner Module

To further the Community Development Program’s commitment to addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion associated with our programs, the...

Purdue Extension.

Congratulations, Michael!

For the December 2020 edition, we have hijacked Michael’s column to bring you some great news! Dr. Wilcox, Purdue Extension’s Assistant...

Purdue Extension.

Recruitment Strategies for Building Stronger Boards

Purdue Extension recently surveyed over 350 board, council, and committee members throughout the state to better respond to their training needs....

Purdue Extension.

Identify the Professional, Business and Organizational Skills You Need to Thrive in 2021

Purdue Extension.

Capital Comments: A Tale of Two Recessions

The Great Recession began after the economy peaked in December 2007, and then continued for 18 months through June 2009. It was the longest...

Purdue Extension.

Hybrid Engagement

In October, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant kicked off a multi-meeting series focused on creating an action plan that will guide the future of the Cedar...

Purdue Extension.

Everything Counts…

Purdue Extension.

What are you most thankful for?

Purdue Extension.

Let’s Shake it Up!

We have always heard that change is good and change brings about new ideas. What happens when an event, business or community fail to change? When...

Purdue Extension.

Indiana Space Trees

Sycamore and Tulip Poplar tree seeds orbited the Earth on the U.S. space shuttle Atlantis STS more than 30 years ago, from December 2-6, 1988, as...

Purdue Extension.

Capital Comments: COVID Recession Makes Farmland Tax Predictions Harder

Purdue Extension.

Purdue Launches Small Business Connections through EIRPC

Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD) and Purdue Extension – Community Development (CDEXT) want to help small businesses shift toward...

Purdue Extension.

Diversity = Prosperity

Fall is my favorite season. Crisp air, falling leaves, harvest, and holidays. Time for family and friends. Here on campus, fall is a time for...

Purdue Extension.

Capital Comments: Don’t get spun: What’s happening in our economy, right now?

Forecasts? Don’t talk about forecasts. You kidding me? I just want to know what’s happening now!

Purdue Extension.

Q4 2020 Trends

In the midst of the pandemic, economic environments have shifted significantly. Competitiveness has increased tenfold, businesses are examining how...

Purdue Extension.

Tipping Point Planner Online Course

The new online Tipping Point Planner course teaches almost anyone involved in land use planning or water quality issues how to use the tool to...

Volunteers working in a community garden

Purdue Extension: Growing communities one garden at a time

Located within an Indianapolis food desert, 25 volunteers gathered on a hot July day to build six raised garden beds and plant cool-season...

Purdue Extension.

Drum Roll Please…

During the last six months, many individuals, organizations, and institutions have been stretched to their limits in terms of leadership,...

Purdue Extension.

Shifting Tides

History has a way of repeating itself. Within the world of fashion, mullets have reappeared in adolescents. Men are wearing shorter, tighter shorts...

Purdue Extension.

Capital Comments: Rents, Telecommuting and Harry Potter

The wizards in Harry Potter’s Britain use many forms of transportation. Brooms, but also floo powder, portkeys, flying vehicles, the Night...

Purdue Extension.

Register for EDEN’s Annual Meeting

This year has given all community development educators a reason to tune into the expertise of the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN)....

Purdue Extension.

Latino Health Needs & Workforce Assessment Begins in Clinton County

A Latino Health Needs & Workforce Assessment study has launched in Clinton County as a collaboration between the Indiana Minority Health...

Purdue Extension.

Blackford County Receives Two Rounds of Funding for Local Business COVID-19 Support

On April 30, when Lt. Governor Crouch announced that 61 communities had received COVID-19 response funds, Blackford County was among them because...

Purdue Extension.

Fall 2020 Registration for American Citizen Planner Now Open

Purdue Extension and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant have opened enrollment in American Citizen Planner – Indiana, an online training course for...

Purdue Extension.

Developing Employee Engagement through Leadership

Since the COVID-19 crisis began, companies and communities have been running extremely lean on virtually every front, especially in the human...

Purdue Extension.

A Year Ago…

A year ago, when I started my new role as assistant director and program leader with Purdue Extension, I was focused on helping our team continue...

Purdue Extension.

A Graphic Reflection Tool

As any great leader knows, in order to lead effectively you must first meet people where they are. Every person’s experiences are different,...

Purdue Extension.

Capital Comments: Trouble for Indiana’s State Budget

Revenues fell 8 percent below forecast for the year, 23 percent from March through June. We used $850 million in balances to cover that shortfall,...

Purdue Extension.

Spotlight on Grant-Writing Success

Let Us Learn, Inc. (LUL) was a brand-new 501(c)3 nonprofit at the beginning of 2017. We received our nonprofit status in December of 2016, and we...

Purdue Extension.

Small Business Resources to Support Economic Retention and Recovery

This article contains a list of resources for Indiana small businesses to support economic retention and recovery related to the COVID-19...

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Promoting Resilience by Diminishing Isolation

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global public health and economic crisis. Whether it is on the news, through your social media networks or...

Purdue Extension.

Local Leaders Explore Property Tax System in Purdue Extension Workshop

Purdue Extension provided a free workshop for local leaders to learn about Indiana’s property tax system and explore trends in local and...

Purdue Extension.

Are We In This Together?

As our store shelves are being rapidly emptied of food, hand sanitizer, medicines, masks and other ‘essentials,’ I have been thinking...

Purdue Extension.

Childcare: An Economic Development Strategy

Imagine you are a single mom with three kids, ages 2, 5 and 8. You have a “normal” job working 8-5 p.m. with a slightly flexible...

Purdue Extension.

Local Government Leadership Workshop Explains Election Process Requirements

Lake County Extension collaborated with the Lake County Clerk’s office and the Board of Elections & Registration to present the...

Purdue Extension.

To Do or Not To Do, That is the Question…

It is a commonly held notion that many smaller communities have ten people that do everything. They serve on committees and boards, and they plan...

Purdue Extension.

Is It Better to Give Than Receive?

For me, the recent holiday season put an old adage to the test, is it better to give than to receive? Like most parents of pre-teen and teenage...

Purdue Extension.

Purdue Extension Land Use Team Launches American Citizen Planner Program in Indiana

The American Citizen Planner program, which provides training in core competencies for public planning officials, is now being offered in Indiana...

Purdue Extension.

Tracking 21st Century Diversity in Indiana Counties

As globalization continues to chug along and the digital age continues to take hold, communities in Indiana need to adapt in order to remain...

Purdue Extension.

Reaping the Benefits of Impactful Work

November is the month that our neighbors and friends engaged in row crop agriculture are usually finishing their harvest. In a similar fashion, our...

Purdue Extension.

Increase Your Business’s Online Presence by Downloading Our New App

Purdue Extension Community Development (CD) and the Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD) is ecstatic to announce the release of our...

Purdue Extension.

Catalyzing Community Capacity

This is the season when many of us commune together as colleagues at work and family members at home. In the best of circumstances, we trade...

Purdue Extension.

Skillful Indiana: Governor’s Coaching Corps

Workforce development – a commonly tossed around buzz word – but what exactly is it and what does it look like here in Indiana? For...

Purdue Extension.

Year-End Reflections and Plans for the New Year

As 2019 comes to a close, the Extension Community Development team wishes you a new year filled with health, happiness and spectacular success....

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Getting Down to Business About the Digital Ready Businesses Program

Earlier this year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Technology Engagement Center published a report commissioned by Amazon looking at the digital...

Purdue Extension.

Fostering Economic Stability – Communities Working Together to Drive Progress

So often my travels leave me weaving alongside desolate country roads that are sparsely populated and towns that are blighted with empty, dusty...

Purdue Extension.

Purdue Extension Community Development Responds to Needs in Your Community

Purdue Extension has offices in all ninety-two counties in Indiana. Through these offices, our educators are able to spend their workdays (and live...

Purdue Extension.

Running for Local Office Seminar Gets Future Local Candidates Ready to Campaign

On September 24, 2019, Purdue Extension Community Development educator, Amanda Galloway, and Tippecanoe County Clerk, Julie Roush, presented to...

Purdue Extension.

Change is the Only Constant in Life

We have all heard the old saying, “Change is the only constant in life.” Spoken 2,500 years ago in Greek as “Panta Rhei...

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Extension Invests in Preparing the Next Generation of Community Leaders

In the last ten years, Indianapolis has embarked on a positive economic path with initiatives such as the “quality of life” plans,...

Purdue Extension.

This September: Be Prepared, Not Scared

This September is National Preparedness Month (NPM). The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) has committed to participate in NPM to...

Purdue Extension.

A Note From the Program Leader

This is my first full week serving as the Assistant Director and Program Leader for Community Development with Purdue Extension. I am excited about...

Purdue Extension.

Water Resources Management

FEMA defines localized flooding as “smaller scale flooding that can occur anywhere in a community.” Localized flooding is most common...

Purdue Extension.

Forestry and Natural Resources

Urban forestry is a program that invests in the future of the community. Your final plan should consider the biological, management and community...

Purdue Extension.

Planning for Agritourism – A Guide for Local Governments and Indiana Farmers

Agritourism as a business model is growing in popularity as Indiana farmers recognize a need to diversify operations and supplement farm incomes....

Purdue Extension.

Food and Agriculture

More than 60% of Indiana’s land is devoted to agriculture production via 56,800 farms and 14.7 million acres. Today, most farms are not...

Purdue Extension.

Built Environment and Natural Resources

This section focuses on how a comprehensive plan can be used to provide opportunities for active living through deliberate planning policies and...

Purdue Extension.

Economic Development Policy Tools For Local Government Land Use Planning

This section provides an introduction to basic concepts of economic development and how they are related to land use planning. These include...

Purdue Extension.

Introduction and Overview

Purdue Extension and the Indiana Land Resources Council collaboratively developed this guidance document to support plan commission members as well...

Purdue Extension.

Promoting Shared Prosperity and Improved Economic Outcomes in Indianapolis

Inclusive growth and the future of work were recent topics at the Community & Economics Leadership Program (CELP), led by George Okantey,...

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Purdue Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team Selected to Apply for $5,000 Grant

DEI Indy earned the second highest team, out of a total of 28 teams, for the North Central region at the Impact Collaborative summit in Atlanta. As...

Purdue Extension.

Coming Together for Racial Understanding

Eighteen staff from Purdue Extension and the College of Agriculture met at the Wright Forestry Center from May 21-22 to participate in a...

Purdue Extension.

Effective Business Meetings – Reducing the Stress and Increasing Productivity

Raise your hand if you have attended any business meeting that you roll your eyes and think that the meeting is too long? So often, the agenda and...

Purdue Extension.

Group Works on Downtown Enhancement

Three different areas of emphasis are being developed into a comprehensive plan to help make central Connersville a place where healthier choices...

Purdue Extension.

The Key to Being More Productive? Try Slowing Down

In a world where we are constantly asked to have more things completed, assigned more tasks and given more responsibilities, it seems there is a...

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Learning Essential Skills to Engage Difficult Conversation

Conversations move life forward. They can also stop things from moving forward. Relationships begin and end on conversations. Teams are formed and...

Purdue Extension.

USDA Public-Private Partnership Accepting Technical Assistance Applications for Rural Capacity Building

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2019 – Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today announced that USDA and four of its partners...

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Cumberland HCI Team Launches Arts and Spaces Task Force

The Town of Cumberland, Indiana, has launched a new civic organization dedicated to engaging the public through art and improving the aesthetics of...

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Community Development Educator Honored

George Okantey, Purdue Extension Community Development educator in Marion County, was recently named a recipient of the Robert O. Zdenek Staff...

Purdue Extension.

Reflections on the Past Year and What Lies Ahead

As 2018 comes to a close, the Extension Community Development team wishes you a new year filled with health, happiness and spectacular success....

Purdue Extension.

Tis the Season

Decorating for the holidays is a long-standing tradition that for many include having a Christmas tree decorated in your home. Unfortunately, some...

Purdue Extension.

La Fecha Límite Para Participar en una Encuesta en Línea Sobre Iniciativas Favorables Para Adultos Mayores se Acerca Para Residentes de Indianapolis y Fort Wayne

La Fecha Límite Para Participar en una Encuesta en Línea Sobre Iniciativas Favorables Para Adultos Mayores se Acerca Para Residentes de...

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Beekeeping A-Z Class

In March of 2015, Purdue Extension Floyd County started offering beginning beekeeping classes. These first classes were met with much enthusiasm!...

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CELP Graduates Making Local and National Impacts

Three graduates of the Community Economics and Leadership Program (CELP) recently utilized the education they received through the four-month...

Purdue Extension.

Leadership Daviess County Class of 2018

Community projects are a component of many of the Purdue Extension Community Leadership Programs across the state. The Leadership Daviess County...

Purdue Extension.

With Social Media, Markets are Reaching Much Farther

In the scope of society, we have multiple branches of communication. The facets we see depend on our generation, tastes and preferences and where...

Purdue Extension.

Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How.

This September is National Preparedness Month (NPM). The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) has committed to participate in NPM as a way...

Purdue Extension.

The Comprehensive Plan (ID-234-W) – Indraneel Kumar, Val Slack

A community needs a comprehensive plan to serve as the compass for its future course. However, the ability and will to prepare and implement the...

Purdue Extension.

A Look at Confined Feeding Operations in Indiana

Confined Feeding Operations (CFOs) offer an efficient system to feed and house animals through specialization, increased facility size and close...

Purdue Extension.

Community Development Achievement Award Presented to Lionel “Bo” Beaulieu

The Community Development Achievement Award is presented to a Community Development Society (CDS) member in recognition of his or her outstanding...

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Community Economics and Leadership Program (CELP) Graduates Receive Congressional Recognition

Nineteen middle managers and millennials from four community organizations, four city government agencies and three nonprofit agencies recently...

Purdue Extension.

Generational titles — why do we even need them?

Educate, validate, and elevate our employees so they can be the best version of themselves, help them in this regard to identify opportunities for...

Purdue Extension.

Purdue Initiative for Family Firms Helps Build Stronger Family Businesses

Family firms comprise 80-90% of all business enterprises and range from mom-and-pop stores to corporate giants. Family businesses are an important...

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Winners Named for National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals Awards

Purdue Extension’s Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing was recently recognized as a national award winner by the National Association of...

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The Often Overlooked Economic Development Strategy: Business Retention and Expansion

Former professor Dr. David Birch of MIT found that up to 80% of job growth in any community is generated by the businesses already located there...

Purdue Extension.

Attitudes Influence Change

How do communities change? The answer is quite easy. Change is implemented through attitude. Although the answer is easy, getting to that answer is...

Purdue Extension.

Internet Sales Tax

Last week, the Supreme Court ruled internet retailers can be required to collect sales taxes, even in areas where they have no physical presence....

Purdue Extension.

Huntington County Leadership Academy Graduates Class of 2018

Huntington County Leadership Academy congratulates 17 graduates from the 2018 Purdue Extension Community Leadership class. The group has been...

Purdue Extension.

New Curriculum Joins Public Spaces and Healthy Communities Programs

We were in southern Indiana a few weeks ago in a county that is, at first glance, not for want of green space. In fact, natural spaces abound.

Purdue Extension.

Leadership Jasper County Graduates Class of 2017-18

Leadership Jasper County graduated the 2017-18 class this week. The Community Leadership Program works to create a network of willing,...

Purdue Extension.

A Planning & Zoning Glossary (ID-228-W) – Indraneel Kumar

Confused about plans, districts, zones, codes, and more? Knowing and using a common vocabulary of planning and zoning terms will help you...

Purdue Extension.

Welcome to the Plan Commission or Board of Zoning Appeals (ID-511-W) – Jeff Burbrink

Are you new to the local Plan Commission or the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA)? This article give an introduction to plan commissions and BZAs, the...

Purdue Extension.

Assessing Your Comprehensive Plan (ID-227-W) – Dan Walker

A comprehensive plan helps communities identify their shared goals and guides development policies that allow the community to reach those goals....

Purdue Extension.

Assistant Program Leader Presents to Community Economics and Leadership Program (CELP) Participants

Michael Wilcox, Assistant Program Leader for Purdue Extension Community Development, was the May 10 guest speaker for the Community Economics and...

Purdue Extension.

Reaching Successful Economic Development in the Community

The building goes dark, the manager locks the door for the last time, brown paper cascades down windows that once held signs of sales and...

Purdue Extension.

Understanding Indiana’s Local Tax Systems

Local government finance is complex and has become even more so since the implementation of the property tax caps in 2008. In 2016, taxpayers...

Purdue Extension.

Leadership Vigo County Graduates a Network of Residents Committed to Serve and Lead

Congratulations to the 2018 class of Leadership Vigo County, a program provided by Purdue Extension Vigo County, who graduated last month! The...

grants

New Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing Reaps Rewards for Indiana Communities

Competitive grant proposals are an increasing key revenue source for nonprofits, educational institutions and local governments. One indicator of...

Purdue Extension.

Angola HCI Community Forum Draws Large Crowd

How do you get nearly 100 local residents to participate in your community forum? Through working hard on marketing, Hometown Collaboration...

Purdue Extension.

Effective Leadership – Where Did It Go?

‘Leader’ is defined as a person to guide a way by going in advance. Leadership is an important function of management, which helps to...

Purdue Extension.

You Can Say “No” in Business

Whether you are an entrepreneur, want to be one or not, we have all had those days of splitting headaches, not enough hours in the day and when the...

Purdue Extension.

How Co-Working Spaces and Incubators Differ

Recently I had the opportunity to join in on an Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) Listening Session in Sullivan. The information shared...

Purdue Extension.

Wired Publication Quotes Roberto Gallardo

Wired’s article, “Redefining ‘Broadband’ Could Slow Rollout In Rural Areas’, utilized remarks from our own Roberto...

Purdue Extension.

New Communities in Defense Manufacturing Assistance Program

For the next 10 months, the Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD) will be serving four new communities through its Defense Manufacturing...

Purdue Extension.

Gallardo’s Broadband Study Cited

In a globally connected world, access to the internet can link people to a variety of resources that can be of value in their daily living, such as...

Purdue Extension.

Facilitative Leadership Used to Create Comprehensive Strategy for Food Access in Indianapolis

On June 3, the City of Indianapolis, Indy Food Council, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and Purdue Extension-Marion County hosted the...

Purdue Extension.

Bubbling Up Your Business On The Internet

Growth in business is a challenge for many companies and realizing constraints is the first step in the process. For many business owners, the...

Purdue Extension.

Purdue and USDA RD Join Forces to Implement National Regional Economic Development Program

The Indiana Office of USDA Rural Development (RD) announced the designation of the Southern Indiana Development Commission (SIDC) as a Stronger...

Purdue Extension.

Community Rolls Out Small Business and Entrepreneurial Website

That’s the message that Rushville and Rush County are championing with the launching of the community’s own entrepreneurial website....

Purdue Extension.

Cultivating Diversity and Differences

Hiring employees from various backgrounds, cultures and experiences leads to workplace diversity. The vast majority of employers view diversity as...

Purdue Extension.

Turning Bad Meetings Into Great Ones Takes Leadership

No one likes to sit through a bad meeting. Many of us can point to things we don’t like about the meetings we attend that are not productive:

Purdue Extension.

HCI Local Food Summit Held in City of Auburn

On a beautiful May day, more than 100 people gathered at the DeKalb County Fairgrounds to learn, network and share about the local food system for...

Purdue Extension.

Generation 5 Communities Accepted Into Hometown Collaboration Initiative

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) announced on May 4, 2017 that the Towns of Albion and Cumberland, Cities of Angola and...

Purdue Extension.

Business Communication Techniques

Main Street corridors and county lines no longer bound society. The geographic boundaries of business expand nationally and globally for many small...

Purdue Extension.

HCI Local Food Summit Held in Spencer County

More than 58 people gathered at the Spencer County Extension office on March 22, 2017 to learn and discuss issues for their local food system. As...

Purdue Extension.

Book Club: A Good Tax, Chapter 4

This post is a part of our Local Government book club series. Join us in reading A Good Tax: Legal and Policy Issues for the Property Tax in the...

Purdue Extension.

Purdue Program Helps Expand Jobs for Small Indiana Firms

Small businesses are the primary driver of job growth in Indiana. In fact, existing second stage businesses generated 36% of all new jobs in...

Purdue Extension.

Five Communities Selected as Semi-Finalists for Generation 5 of the Hometown Collaboration Initiative

The Indiana Office of Community & Rural Affairs (OCRA) announced on April 6, 2017 that the semi-finalists for Generation 5 of the Hometown...

Purdue Extension.

USDA Rural Development Finds “High Quality” in Economic Development Plan

INDIANAPOLIS, March 15, 2017 – The Eastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (EIRPC) has achieved the “High Quality Plan”...

Purdue Extension.

It’s Time to Embrace Small Businesses

Did you know that half of all businesses in Indiana are small businesses? These companies are the economic drivers of the local economy. Typically,...

Purdue Extension.

Leadership Vigo County Graduates A Network of Residents Committed to Serve and Lead

Purdue Extension.

Book Club Review: A Good Tax, Chapter 3

This post is a part of our Local Government book club series. Join us in reading A Good Tax: Legal and Policy Issues for the Property Tax in the...

Purdue Extension.

Southwestern Indiana Master Gardeners & Strategic Planning

The Southwestern Indiana Master Gardeners Association (SWIMGA) continues to pioneer efforts on strategic planning for their organization. A group...

Purdue Extension.

Community Development Regional Educators Facilitate Visioning Forum

Nearly 50 Southwestern Indiana Master Gardeners Association (SWIMGA) members attended a Visioning Forum on February 4, 2017. Community Development...

Purdue Extension.

Book Club Review: A Good Tax, Chapter 2

This post is a part of our Local Government book club series. Join us in reading A Good Tax: Legal and Policy Issues for the Property Tax in the...

Purdue Extension.

Book Club Review: A Good Tax, Chapter 1

This post is a part of our Local Government book club series. Join us in reading A Good Tax: Legal and Policy Issues for the Property Tax in the...

Purdue Extension.

Stronger Economies Together (SET) Accepting Indiana Applications

USDA Rural Development Acting Indiana State Director Alan Krapf has announced Indiana has been approved to deliver Phase VII of the Stronger...

Purdue Extension.

Indiana Hometown Collaboration Initiative Now Accepting Applications

The Hometown Collaboration Initiative, an Initiative of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), is accepting applications from...

Purdue Extension.

Nonprofit Session Gives Community Leaders Insight into Serving on Local Boards

Purdue Extension’s Community Leadership Program offers participants the opportunity to make a difference in their home towns by equipping...

Purdue Extension.

Picking Perry County: A Hometown Collaboration Initiative Success Story

Tell City, Indiana, in Perry County sits by the Ohio River, 179 miles away from Indianapolis. However, after a project with the Hometown...

Purdue Extension.

Indiana Hometown Collaboration Initiative Accepting Applications

The Hometown Collaboration Initiative, an Initiative of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) is accepting applications from...

Purdue Extension.

Join us in our New Year’s Resolution

The Purdue Extension Local Government group has made a New Year’s Resolution to read A Good Tax: Legal and Policy Issues for the Property Tax...

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Grant Writing Demystified: What You Need to Know About this High-Stakes Game

For ten years, I have been teaching grant writing workshops in Indiana. In that time, I have met very few people who actually set out to become...

Purdue Extension.

Six North Central Indiana Counties Create Regional Economic Plan

Economic leaders drawn from a six-county region will be crafting a plan designed to build on the region’s economic strengths and serve as the...

Purdue Extension.

Purdue Extension’s Conservation Through Community Leadership Program – Accepting Community Applications

Purdue Extension’s new Conservation through Community Leadership (CCL) program is now accepting applications for the inaugural community...

Purdue Extension.

Bremen Indiana and Crawford County Accepted into Hometown Collaboration Initiative

Indiana Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community Affairs (OCRA) announced on January 18, 2017 that the Town of...

Purdue Extension.

Local Workshop Broaches Topics of Diversity

Members of the community came together on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to discuss diversity at the “Navigating Differences”...

Purdue Extension.

Initiative Helps Small Businesses Succeed

A Purdue program for small businesses was recently featured on WLFI News. The Purdue Initiative for Family Firms (PIFF) provides multi-generational...

Purdue Extension.

WLFI News Features Logansport’s HCI Activities

The story highlighted a key goal of the local HCI team, which is to share the story of the community’s rich history and local assets. The...

Purdue Extension.

Economic Development – Placed Based Assets

More and more communities are beginning to recognize the need for place based asset strategies when it comes to economic development.

Purdue Extension.

Educator Guides Positive New Steps for Bartholomew County Parks

An Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces Workshop was held last week with Bartholomew County’s Anderson Falls Park as the focus. Although it...

Purdue Extension.

Leadership Vigo County Launch

Leadership Vigo County launched its inaugural class with 10 participants on August 25 at the West Vigo Library. The sessions are all hosted by...

Purdue Extension.

USDA Rural Development, Purdue University Expand Program to Assist Regional Economic Development

USDA Rural Development (RD) State Director Philip G. Lehmkuhler today announced the designation of a new North Central Indiana region for the next...

Purdue Extension.

Bo Beaulieu receives the NACDEP National Distinguished Career Award

It’s my honor to inform you of yet another prestigious honor earned by Bo Beaulieu, Assistant Director of Purdue Extension and Community...

Purdue Extension.

In Rebuilding Economy and Population, Small Towns Wonder: What Comes First?

Small towns across Indiana are trying modernize their economies and hold onto younger residents. But where do they start? With jobs? Quality of...

Purdue Extension.

Latest Capital Comments Looks at School Referenda Results

Journalists, school officials and local government enthusiasts joined Purdue Extension’s Larry DeBoer and Tamara Ogle (@INTaxRockstars) on...

Purdue Extension.

Business Retention & Expansion Program Piloted in Parke County

In January 2015, Purdue’s Community Development Educators were trained by Ohio State University to implement their comprehensive,...

Purdue Extension.

Leadership Jasper County Class of 2016

The first Leadership Jasper County class graduated recently. Sixteen individuals representing a wide variety of careers and all parts of the county...

Purdue Extension.

Indiana Hometown Collaboration Initiative Now Accepting Applications

The Hometown Collaboration Initiative (HCI), an initiative of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), is accepting applications...

Purdue Extension.

Leadership Clinton County Class of 2016

Congratulations to the 15 graduates of Leadership Clinton County 2016 on completing 44 hours of training in conflict management, navigating...

Purdue Extension.

How to Read Your Property Tax Bill

Property taxes in Indiana are paid in two installments, due May 10 and November 10 of each year. We are fast approaching the due date for the...

Purdue Extension.

West Lafayette Parks Survey Results Are In

The department conducted the survey earlier this year. It asked questions about individual opinions on services, programs and facilities provided...

Purdue Extension.

Community Leaders in Southwest Indiana Learn More about Indiana’s Property Tax System

Local governments have faced many fiscal challenges in the past several years, from the Great Recession to property tax cap losses, creating a...

Purdue Extension.

Stay Connected with the Purdue Extension Community Development Program

The Purdue Extension Community Development Program now has a Facebook and Twitter page! If you’re interested in getting better connected with...

Purdue Extension.

Leadership Vermillion County Graduates Inaugural Class

The sun was shining as The Beef House banquet room filled with sponsors, committee members and participants of Leadership Vermillion County. Twelve...

Purdue Extension.

Purdue Extension Community Development Program Ready to “Build a Path to Resiliency”

The National Association of Community Development Professionals (NACDEP) and the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals (ANREP)...

Purdue Extension.

Seymour to Host Local Food Summit

Seymour’s HCI Coordinating Team is heavily engaged with Vision 2025 in planning and launching their Local Food Summit that will take...

Purdue Extension.

Purdue Extension Aids Frankfort in Downtown Revitalization Study Grant

The award of a federally-funded $40,000 planning grant will allow city officials to develop a Downtown Revitalization Study to address ways to...

Purdue Extension.

Purdue Extension Aids Frankfort in Downtown Revitalization Study Grant

Purdue Extension.

Women’s Voices in Fayette County Convenes First Meeting

Women’s Voices…some would argue that they are seldom heard – especially in the context of community and economic development. For...

Purdue Extension.

Corydon HCI Capstone Project Underway

In 2015, the Corydon HCI committee had many great accomplishments, ranging from strong engagement from the community to strengthened relationships...

Purdue Extension.

Valparaiso Chamber Leadership Academy

The Valparaiso Chamber Leadership Academy graduated its 10th class, strengthening its collaboration with Purdue Extension. Sixteen participants...

Purdue Extension.

HCI Finalists Announced

On December 4, 2015, Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann sent an electronic video to congratulate four newly designated finalists for the HCI. The...

Purdue Extension.

Office of Community and Rural Affairs Recognized by Purdue Extension

OCRA has funded a $100,000 socioeconomic and fiscal study of rural Indiana undertaken by Extension and the Purdue Center for Regional Development...

Purdue Extension.

Cindy Barber Wins Two Awards!

Daviess County Purdue Community Development Extension Educator Cindy Barber was the recipient of two awards last week in honor of her community...

Purdue Extension.

SET Program Given Partnership Award by NIFA

The national Stronger Economies Together program (SET) has earned a National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Partnership Award for...

Purdue Extension.

Leadership Vermillion County Kicks Off

The kickoff for Leadership Vermillion County was held on Wednesday, September 9 at the Clinton Elanco Laboratories. Participants were treated to...

Purdue Extension.

Purdue University Plays Key Role in Stronger Economies Together Program

A team of Purdue University community and regional development professionals will play a key role in advancing the efforts of two groups of Indiana...

Purdue Extension.

Wilcox Recipient of Major Award

I know that many of you were made aware by Jason Henderson of the important award our CD colleague Michael Wilcox received from the National...

Purdue Extension.

Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces Annual Meeting in Frankfort, Indiana

“Imagining what Downtown Frankfort will look like in 10 years” was the whole point of the Enhancing the Value of Downtown Public Spaces...

Purdue Extension.

Purdue Extension Contributes at NACDEP

Purdue Extension and PCRD Team Members attended the 2015 National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals Annual Meeting this...

Purdue Extension.

All In’s Successful Community Forum in Jasper County

All In wrapped up its community forum in Jasper County on Tuesday, February 24. All In is a three-part program developed by Purdue Extension that...

Purdue Extension.

Extension Provides Leadership at Batesville Food and Growers Association Annual Conference

Food and Growers Association (FGA) hosted their 9th annual conference on February 7, 2015, in Batesville.

Purdue Extension.

A Powerful Network: Purdue Extension Support is Critical to Small Businesses

Purdue Extension’s involvement in community development initiatives helps individuals, businesses and communities acquire the knowledge and...

Purdue Extension.

Hometown Collaboration Initiative Communities Unveiled

Indiana Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann announced six communities that have been selected to participate in the Office of Community and Rural...

Purdue Extension.

Extension Leads Strategic Planning Process for the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana

On December 19, 2014, the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana Board of Directors adopted a plan to increase the number of meals distributed by two...