Purdue Extension’s Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing was recently recognized as a national award winner by the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) at their 2018 Annual Conference in Cleveland, Ohio. The award, the national NACDEP Excellence in Teamwork Award, creates a platform for community development work to be showcased in a professional …

Former professor Dr. David Birch of MIT found that up to 80% of job growth in any community is generated by the businesses already located there and not by attraction efforts. Economic development in our local economies can seem like a mysterious science, filled with secret deliberations and a healthy dose of luck. Nothing gets …

This article was originally published in the Tribune-Star on June 2, 2018. How do communities change? The answer is quite easy. Change is implemented through attitude. Although the answer is easy, getting to that answer is much more complicated. Behavior and influencing behavior is much more tedious than we realize. How is behavior influenced? Behavior is influenced by environmental …

Last week, the Supreme Court ruled internet retailers can be required to collect sales taxes, even in areas where they have no physical presence. This ruling overturns a 1992 ruling that helped the then nascent internet commerce take off and become a billion dollar industry today. In our work with rural communities, we have heard …

Huntington County Leadership Academy congratulates 17 graduates from the 2018 Purdue Extension Community Leadership class.  The group has been meeting since January to develop and strengthen leadership skills and learn more about Huntington County.  Participants were able to participate in tours of and learn more about the following local businesses and organizations: Our Sunday Visitor, …

Leadership Jasper County graduated the 2017-18 class this week.  The Community Leadership Program works to create a network of willing, knowledgeable and committed leaders to step up and make a difference in their community. The Community Leadership Program was designed by several Purdue Extension faculty and staff to assist potential leaders in communities around the …

We were in southern Indiana a few weeks ago in a county that is, at first glance, not for want of green space. In fact, natural spaces abound. Dominated by a significant swath of the Hoosier National Forest, it is a burgeoning tourism destination and an increasingly popular place for people seeking some solitude to …

Michael Wilcox, Assistant Program Leader for Purdue Extension Community Development, was the May 10 guest speaker for the Community Economics and Leadership Program (CELP) meeting in Indianapolis.  The data snapshot that Michael presented showcased a variety of demographic, economic and labor market information that local leaders and organizations can use to gain a better perspective …

This article was originally published in the Tribune-Star on May 12, 2018. The building goes dark, the manager locks the door for the last time, brown paper cascades down windows that once held signs of sales and promotions. Big box retailers such as Toys R Us, H.H. Gregg, Circuit City and many others are either shutting their doors or …

Local government finance is complex and has become even more so since the implementation of the property tax caps in 2008. In 2016, taxpayers realized savings from the tax caps of over $8 million dollars, but on the other hand, this was money local governments budgeted and levied but ultimately did not receive. 2017 brought …