Past Projects

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Technology

Community Websites

In the last decade, access to information through the internet has become a powerful tool for communities to function and prosper. Rural communities tend to have difficulty organizing information online due to limited experience and resources. The establishment of community websites allows citizens to receive important information encompassing a wide rage of activities including recreational activities, emergency information, and governmental activities. Not only do these sites aid in the dissemination of information, but also serve as a network of contacts and resources that become more easily accessible when provided online. SIRDP solicited and received over 75 proposals and eventually helped five organizations covering 11 counties plan and establish community websites.

Leadership Development

Leadership Development Program: Leading Southern Indiana into the 21^st Century

Recognizing the importance of cultivating leaders, SIRDP in cooperation with Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT) and the Association of Indiana Counties (AIC), developed and created a program through a Community Planning Fund grant from the Indiana Department of Commerce (IDOC). SIRDP recognized that the key to success for the program centered on location of the sessions. In order to maximize attendance and participation, SIRDP held sessions across regions so that no participant had to drive more then two counties away to attend programs. The program focused on community development, partnerships through resource sharing and cooperation, municipal and county governments, personal leadership training, and a visit to the state capitol. The program involved five courses presented on-site over the course of a year and culminating with a final course in Indianapolis. The project was successful attracting and training over 100 participants and graduating more than 30 individuals from the entire program.

Housing

Live the Dream, Own a Home: A Comprehensive Homeownership Education Program

Procuring affordable housing for individuals with limited resources and income can almost seem impossible, yet this remains an important necessity to a higher quality of life. The mission of SIRDP's Housing Task force centers on promoting the needs for and the benefits of affordable housing. The Live the Dream, Own a Home project focuses on educating constituents on purchasing their first home by providing training sessions, a manual, and local resources to aid in the process. One of SIRDP's most successful projects, over 200 classes have been held with over 3,000 participants. Of the 3,000 participants, approximately 90% wereconsidered lower income.

Housing Needs Assessment

Identifying housing needs for communities often is the first step in procuring adequate housing for citizens, especially low income citizens. Housing Needs Assessments enable a county and its communities to create, develop, and/or preserve affordable, decent, safe housing. These studies allow for careful planning and provide concrete analysis of housing needs and establish appropriate development of affordable housing. SIRDP aided five counted in completing Housing Needs Assessments to develop more housing opportunities.

Healthcare

Healthcare Needs Survey

Access to quality healthcare is an important component of maintaining an adequate quality of life for citizens. The first step in procuring quality healthcare often becomes assessing the needs of citizens and the community. SIRDP conducted a healthcare survey to identify the needs in rural healthcare in order to arm communities and rural healthcare providers with information to improve services. The survey involved several stakeholders including doctors, hospitals, as well as healthcare providers.

Farmer's Market

Farmer's Market Workshops

Farmers' Markets have long been used to help local farmers increase sales of their produce within their local communities. This venue has the potential to provide extra sources of income for local and regional farmers. However, setting up a local farmer's market presents itself as a challenge to most communities, even larger cities. The Farmers' Market workshop hosted by SIRDP focused on both the establishment and operation of productive farmers' markets, as well as the regulations and liabilities associated with these activities. The workshop included breakout sessions with presenters that had relevant expertise in a wide variety of areas including agri-tourism, organic farming, and development of business plans. Participants were also provided with a packet of useful information to aid in developing their programs.

Environmental

Brownfields & Land Use

Brownfields are defined as abandoned or underused industrial and commercial land. Sites are underutilized because of the fear of environmental contamination and frozen interest in developing the site. Instead of pursuing these urban properties, or "brownfields," buyers often choose to develop "greenfield" sites in suburban and rural areas. This trend not only encourages the use of undeveloped land--leading to suburban sprawl, increased traffic congestion, and the destruction of habitat--it also restricts the redevelopment of urban areas, thus limiting economic growth. SIRDP conducted a study that sought to inventory brownfield sites in Southern Indiana in addition to creating a step-by-step guide for communities that provides information on how to deal with these sites.

Agriculture

Tobacco Project

Tobacco farming has long been a large part of the agricultural economy in southern Indiana. After changes in the industry, tobacco production faced significant decrease, affecting counties in rural southern Indiana. Though tobacco constitutes a relatively small percentage of the state's total agriculture output, it is a significant economic element of the counties, communities, and individuals involved in the tobacco industry. The Indiana Rural Development Council, Inc., in partnership with the Southern Indiana Rural Development Project, worked with tobacco stakeholders, local economic development organizations, and local elected officials to provide structured communications among stakeholders and community leaders in each tobacco-producing county and throughout Southern Indiana. Creating this base of stakeholders allowed development of projects to meet the upcoming challenges in tobacco farming.

Feasibility Studies

The state of Indiana has a long and rich tradition of farming and agriculture. Recognizing the important role farming plays, SIRDP conducted several feasibility studies to test the possibility of expanding farmers markets to rural areas. SIRDP explored the possibility of developing large volume wholesale markets. This venue would allow large volume clients, including restaurants, to purchase from local growers.