Communities Get Grant Money And Recognition At Statehouse

Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at 11:06 AM

By Mike Perleberg @mikedup84

Aurora, Lawrenceburg, Napoleon, and Versailles are being recognized for projects ranging from historic preservation to a new firehouse.

Celebrating OCRA Historic Renovation Grant for the Speakman House in Aurora, Indiana with (left to right) Indiana Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, Aurora City Manager Guinevere Emery, Banschbach Enterprises owner Mark Banschbach and OCRA Executive Director Jodi Golden. Photo provided.

(Aurora, Ind.) – The renovation of a historic home in Ohio County is getting props from Indiana’s lieutenant governor.

The Indiana Officer of Community and Rural Affairs awarded a $100,000 historic renovation grant to Mark Banschbach for the renovation of the Speakman house last May.

The 17-room home overlooking Laughery Creek was built in 1846 by Stephen Speakman. It had been vacant and falling into disrepair until Banschbach, an area businessman bought it last year.

On January 9, Banschbach and Aurora City Manager Guinevere Emery represented the city at the Indiana Statehouse in being honored by Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. Aurora is among 70 Indiana communities “who collaboratively shaped and executed their vision for their communities in 2018.”

"By working together, these communities provided unique and impressive changes to their local parks, walkways, main streets and economic developments," Crouch said. "In partnership with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, local leaders were able to utilize state funding to incorporate the plans to further their community development."

More than $41 million was provided by local communities and was combined with $22 million from OCRA. These funds were used to complete quality of place improvements like water system enhancements, new public facilities, revitalizing main streets, restoring historic buildings and enhancing downtowns.

Other southeastern Indiana communities receiving recognition for renovation projects included:

City of Lawrenceburg for a $4,800 Quick Impact Placebased grant for new concrete chess boards at Newtown Park,
Town of Napoleon for a $500,000 public facilities grant for the construction of a new fire station. The project will build an 8,400 square foot station with four drive-thru bays, a training room, and warming kitchen.
Town of Versailles for a $550,000 wasterwater/drinking water grant for improvements to the town’s wastewater collection system. The project will replace or rehabilitate manholes, sewer lines and install a remote monitoring system at four lift stations.

"Today is a great day to celebrate all the successes, collaborative efforts and planning our Hoosier communities have achieved this past year," said Jodi Golden, OCRA executive director. "Our office was fortunate to help make our rural cities, towns and counties better places to live, work and play. I'm excited to see how the communities will continue to grow this funding."