Muncie, Regional Cities Initiative partners make pitch for state funds

Mayor Dennis Tyler, local business people and leaders from other East Central Indiana counties made their pitch for Regional Cities Initiative funds during an Indianapolis presentation on Wednesday.

"A final decision on which regions to fund will be made sometime in December," Terry Murphy of the local Economic Development Alliance told The Star Press.

Cities and counties from around the state formed regional groups to compete for a portion of the state funding, to be distributed over two years. Muncie is part of the East Central region, which includes the surrounding counties.

Local projects for which funding is sought include the city's proposed $48-million White River Canal District riverfront development and the GearBox makers hub in the former Cintas building. Other projects include expansion of the Purdue Flagship center along Interstate 69 in Anderson, a safe routes to school program for Portland and the proposed Kitselman Pure Energy Park at the former Indiana Steel and Wire on Muncie's east side as well as several others.

Those speaking Wednesday before state economic officials included Tyler, businessman Jeff Daniels and Andy Bowne, regional chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College.