Blue River Community Foundation receives grant for local alleyway project

The Blue River Community Foundation has been awarded an IN Indiana Placemaking Activation Grant that will assist with the “Mount Fuji Alleyway Project.”

The Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) awarded $450,145.40 of grant funding for five Indiana Destination Development and eight Indiana Placemaking Activation grant projects.

“The Indiana Destination Development Grant and IN Indiana Placemaking Activation Grant are designed to support local initiatives that drive tourism (and) boost economic growth,” said Amy Howell, IDDC Interim CEO. “We are proud to partner with communities around Indiana through these grants to showcase what makes them special while creating a lasting impact for residents and visitors.”

The IN Indiana Placemaking Activation Grant is a matching grant of up to $25,000 to fund signage and placemaking efforts. These projects will showcase local communities and connect them with the rest of the state using the IN Indiana identifier.

The grants include a diverse group of locations and projects from urban to rural settings, in both large and small communities, in different regions of the state.

Blue River Community Foundation was awarded $15,000 for its Mount Fuji Alleyway Project that will be installed in the alleyway between Grover Center: Museum and Historical Society, 52 W. Broadway, and Shelbyville fire station No. 1.

“This is something we’ve been working on at the foundation for over a year at this point,” said Laura Land, Community Engagement Officer at Blue River Community Foundation. “We have wanted to transform the alleyway between the Grover Museum and the fire station to a Japanese alleyway.”

Mount Fuji, a World Cultural Heritage Site, is a major backdrop to Shelbyville’s Japanese sister city, Shizuoka. A large art installation has been selected for the alleyway and will tie into a Shizuoka exhibit inside the Grover Museum.

The local museum is currently undergoing external work. Land believes the art installation, which may go in phases, will begin this summer.

Blue River Community Foundation is accepting private and corporate donations to fund the final phases of the installation. Donations can be mailed to the foundation at 54 W. Broadway St. in Shelbyville (46176) or donations are accepted online at https://form.jotform.com/240877264345160 .

Other IN Indiana Placemaking Activation Grants awarded were:

• Playhouse Mural ($15,000) for Brown County Playhouse Management, Inc.
• Abraham Lincoln Statues ($25,000) for City of Boonville
• Decatur County Photography Trail Wayfinding Signage ($4,015) for Greensburg Main Street.
• Monon South Trail Siloh Murals ($15,000) for Orange County Economic Development Partnership
• Trail Wayfinding Signage and Sculpture Plackards ($6,000) for Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum.
• Lincoln and Santa Claus Mural ($2,488.50) for Spencer County Visitors Bureau, Inc.
• Tecumseh Trail Entrance Sign ($2,639.90) for Town of Lynnville.

The Indiana Destination Development Grant is a matching grant between $50,000 and $250,000 to fund public high-impact projects that enhance existing tourism. These projects will enhance Indiana’s capacity to attract visitors, provide tourism experiences, and enhance residential quality of life.

Those grants were awarded to:

• $50,000 to Conner Prairie in Fishers to redefine how visitors view and use the Museum Experience Center through immersive and interactive experiences.
• $140,000 to the Academy of Model Aeronautics Foundation in Muncie to complete an expansion of the National Model Aviation Museum.
• $50,000 to Richmond Parks and Recreation to construct a picnic table shelter as part of the first phase of the Whitewater Valley Gorge Park project.
• $75,000 to the War Veterans Memorial Shrine of American History Inc. in Fort Wayne to complete a first-of-its-kind Tribute to Women in the Military monument.
• $50,000 to Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department to build the first championship, golf-level disc golf course in Indiana. The course will be located in Fowler Park, just south of Terre Haute.

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