INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) and the Indiana Office of Tourism Development (IOTD) announced on April 5, 2017 a new grant funding opportunity, the Quick Impact Placebased Grant Program (QuIP), a matching program designed to fund the type of place enhancement and community transformation that sparks community wide conversation and creativity.

“One of the cornerstones of OCRA’s mission is to continuously look for partnership opportunities that offer a variety of resources to support community-led initiatives which improve the economic health and wellbeing of Indiana,” said OCRA Deputy Director Matt Crouch. “We are excited to launch QuIP as a fast turnaround, high impact opportunity for projects throughout our cities and towns.”

Eligible Applicants include:

• Community Groups or Organizations
• Local Units of Government
• Schools - (these include all schools such as elementary through high school, college, university, and trade & vocational)

Eligible applicants have the opportunity to apply for project funding between $2,500 and $5,000 with a 50 percent required cash and/or in-kind match.

“The goal in creating the Quick Impact Placebased Grant Program was to provide communities another opportunity in which to build upon their local assets and create community connections,” added IOTD Executive Director Mark Newman. “We recognize this is a fast turnaround, but have great faith these grants could provide the quick wins for communities to build upon or spark the initial conversations for local transformation and growth.” 

Examples of Eligible Projects:

• Alley activation: Art Alley
• Creative project to showcase community identity
• Enhancement of existing or underutilized public assets into a new or usable space
• Interactive Life-size Games or Game Sheds for public use
• Pop-Up public gathering spots
• Transforming vacant store fronts
• Unique signage or identifiers

There are many eligible projects. These dollars should be used to create a small change that spurs conversation and community engagement. The space should in some way be transformed for the better.

Ineligible Projects include:

• Admin Fees-Including grant writing or administration
• Demolition
• Events
• Food, drink or alcohol
• Gaming and Gambling activities
• Illegal or unsanctioned activities
• One-time use activities or products
• Plants, greenery, shrubs or anything of that nature
• Public Restrooms
• Salaries
• Spaces that are not open to the public
• Small funding portion of a much larger project, grant amount cannot be less than 10% of total project cost (example: request for $5,000 of a $75,000 project would be ineligible)
• Taxes
• WiFi

OCRA and IOTD encourage these projects to be community unique and locally inspired. Placemaking involves a working partnership with local governments, residents, community groups, and organizations as well as business and community agencies. Successful applications would demonstrate community collaboration, partnership capacity, and have impactful community benefits.

Applications must be received in the OCRA office by 4pm, EST on Friday, April 21, 2017. 

Applications can be delivered in person or mailed to:
1 North Capitol
Suite 600
Indianapolis, IN 46204

For more information on QuIP, contact your OCRA Community Liaison or visit: www.in.gov/ocra/quipgrant.htm.