Logansport officials have enlisted an engineering firm to help with its efforts to secure project funding as the state evaluates the city's and other communities' applications.
The city is pursuing a designation from Indiana's Stellar Communities program. Several state government agencies partner to provide the program as a way to fund development projects in smaller communities. The designation gives communities access to a variety of grants or loans.
Read the P-T's coverage of the city's goals for the program.
The Logansport Board of Public Works and Safety approved an agreement Wednesday, March 25 with Indianapolis-based HWC Engineering to guide and assist the city as it continues to seek a Stellar designation.
Logansport Mayor Ted Franklin said the firm has been involved with the first four communities named in the Stellar Communities program.
HWC Engineering will be paid hourly, according to the contract, which adds the total amount will not exceed $10,000.
The city recently submitted its required letter of interest to the program. Logansport is one of seven vying for funding in the category of communities with a population of more than 6,000 people, Franklin said.
Franklin went on to say the letter details projects the city has been working on that were a part of its first unsuccessful Stellar attempt in 2012, like trail expansions and a senior housing project. The program looks at that kind of progress favorably, he added.
The letter illustrates how the city has applied the program's advice that came with the denial three years ago, which suggested focusing on a specific part of the community rather than projects spread out across town.
"We've dialed that in," Franklin said. "This is truly our focal point and that focal point is downtown."
Concepts include converting Fourth Street into a two-way, a parking garage, a water feature, plaza, civic center and senior housing. It also proposes moving the Dentzel Carousel from Riverside Park, which has been debated by community members both in favor and opposition since the suggestion was first announced.
Questions, concerns and suggestions concerning the project can be directed to stellarlogansport@cityoflogansport.org.
Franklin said Stellar Program finalists will be named April 16.