Wabash Heartland Innovation Network releases $10 million Regional Cultivation Fund opportunity

First funding round will begin in February 2019 and culminate with awards in June 2019

LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Wabash Heartland Innovation Network (WHIN) is launching the first of five rounds of funding through its Regional Cultivation Fund. Via guidance announced in the six-page overview document, WHIN lays out criteria for the eligibility and selection of projects aimed at enhancing the region’s quality of place.

The Regional Cultivation Fund will award up to $100,000 per planning grant award, and up to $1 million per impact grant award (with 30 percent match required) to projects that improve the region’s vitality, education, and connectivity:

• Education: Increase job readiness, training, and educational alignment that prepare students, as well as adults, for the workforce of tomorrow

• Vitality: Increase the attractiveness of physical spaces for community benefit and implement measures to improve economic sustainability

• Connectivity: Enhance the engagement and connection of residents in the Wabash Heartland via waterways, broadband, and/or transportation

Consistent with WHIN’s mission, preference will be given to projects that:

• Are multi-entity, multi-county initiatives;

• Incorporate Internet of Things (IoT) technology / education;

• Respond to the needs highlighted in the WHIN Regional Place-Making Survey, and/or fill the gaps discovered by WHIN’s Educational Scan; and

• Promote long-term, sustainable efforts that strengthen the whole region.

Residents of the Wabash Heartland (Benton, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Pulaski, Tippecanoe, Warren and White counties) can participate in Idea Forums hosted at educational facilities across the region:

• Warren/Fountain: Jan. 28, 9-11 a.m.
• Benton: Jan. 28, 2-4 p.m.
• White/Tippecanoe: Jan. 29, 9-11 a.m.
• Clinton: Jan. 31 9-11 a.m.
• Montgomery: Jan. 31, 2-4 p.m.
• Cass: Feb. 1, 9-11 a.m.

Eligible applicants who plan to submit a letter of intent (LOI) should also plan to attend Proposer’s Day on Feb. 18, from 1-5 p.m. in Lilly Hall at Lafayette’s Ivy Tech campus, 3101 South Creasy Lane, Lafayette, Indiana, 47905.

Source: Melinda Grismer, vice president of regional development, Wabash Heartland Innovation Network (WHIN): melinda.grismer@whin.org.

All materials pertinent to the Regional Cultivation Fund will be posted on WHIN.org.

If you would like more information about this topic, please visit www.whinsmartregion.org or call (765) 269-5524