Building Socially Connected Communities Program

The Building Socially Connected Communities program awarded funding to 10 communities and organizations in its 2024 pilot round. Of the 10 communities funded in the first round, the average population size is 2,757 residents. The largest community awarded is Rushville, with a population of 6,135, and the smallest community is Merom, with 206 residents. Click here to download a brochure of the awarded project descriptions. Town of Vernon Town of Hope Rush County Economic and Community Development Corporation Merom Camp and Retreat Center Brown County Art Gallery Foundation Owen County Community Foundation Orange County Community Gardens Thriving Grant County, INC. Traditional Arts Today North Daviess Spanish 4 The Town of Vernon is awarded $50,000 to transform the Vernon Gym into the new Vawter Recreational Center. This project will help the community address issues related to social connection among older residents and host intergenerational programs to facilitate meaningful interactions between different age groups. The Town of Hope is awarded $44,285 to repair and replace sidewalks vital for residents accessing key locations in the community. The grant will also help fund signage and banners in the town square with maps, key locations and walking loop details to enhance community connectivity and reduce loneliness. The Rush County Economic and Community Development Corporation is awarded $27,000 to expand transportation services provided by the Rush County Senior Center. This funding will offer free transportation for seniors to attend community events organized by local groups such as the Rush County Boys and Girls Club and the Love Community Center. The Merom Camp and Retreat Center is awarded $24,500 for renovations to College Hall's first floor and third floor auditorium. These spaces will foster connections and provide  consistent support, especially for vulnerable populations like seniors and individuals in recovery. The Brown County Art Gallery Foundation is awarded $20,000 to expand the Creative Aging Program for Brown County seniors who are 55 years and older, titled "Make Art, Make Friends." The program provides opportunities to socialize through 32 sessions of professional art instruction, each four-hours long, combined with mental health education at the Brown County Art Gallery. Owen County Community Foundation is awarded $14,000 to enhance community gathering locations in conjunction with the Meet Me on MYpath project. A scenic pavilion overlooking the White River will accommodate moderate-sized groups of people experiencing nature on the trail. A fire ring development will allow the Friends of MYPath to organize poetry readings, ghost storytelling events and other activities to draw people together. Orange County Community Gardens is awarded $9,215 for the “Preserving Food, Building Community" project. The project seeks to strengthen community connections while addressing food insecurity and loneliness by implementing community gardens, seasonal food preservation events, Senior Soup Nights and Baking with Children events. Thriving Grant County, INC. is awarded $5,000 for the GatherGive Garden Project. The project aims to foster intergenerational connections by creating a vibrant, shared space where kids, young families and seniors can come together and engage in community gardening activities. Traditional Arts Today is awarded $5,000 for a local artisan to hand-forge and install handrails to the front door of its building to improve accessibility. Additionally, the funding will be used to upgrade the kitchen to health department standards, purchase kitchen equipment to serve food and offer cooking classes, and create a gathering space for social  engagement.