Lt. Governor Skillman Awards the Town of LaCrosse

a $500,000 Community Focus Fund Grant

June 30, 2008

Today at a Statehouse ceremony, Lt. Governor Becky Skillman awarded the Town of LaCrosse a $500,000 Community Focus Fund grant for a library.  The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) administers the grants, which are funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.  Thirty-three communities and counties received grants, totaling more than $14 million.

The Town of LaCrosse will use the grant to fund the construction of a new library.  This facility will provide its services to the residents of LaCrosse and LaPorte County’s Dewey Township. This will replace the current LaCrosse Public Library, whose expanding number of patrons and materials have outgrown the very limited amount of space available in the facility.

“Governor Daniels and I are pleased to award Community Focus Funds to support long-term development in our rural communities,” said Lt. Governor Skillman.  “By committing resources to our smaller cities and towns, we are contributing to the overall sustainability and enhancement of our state.” 

The Community Focus Fund grants are awarded twice annually through a competitive application process. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:  community and senior centers, special needs facilities, libraries, water system improvements, storm drainage projects, and sewer system improvements. 

Those pictured with Lt. Governor Skillman are:

Karen Hartlep, Landscape Architect, Inter Design;

Kevin Laswell, InterDesign;

State Senator Ed Charbonneau;

Barbara Thomas,Treasurer;

Kionna Jones, Interdesign;

Judith V. Kasten, President;

Gwen Bucher, Secretary;

Denise Gorski, Vice President;

Brian Burton, InterDesign;

Shirley Frank, Board Member;

Jeff Pruitt, Grant Administrator;

Gerald Spiess; and

Patricia Spiess, Director.