WABASH — The Wabash County Board of Commissioners recently approved $20,000 to aid the Lagro Canal Foundation on a community project.
The appropriation goes toward a grocery store for the town of approximately 500. It’s an endeavor foundation leadership said is a necessity.
“Our studies indicate we are in a food desert,” said Beth Gillespie, president of Lagro Canal Foundation.
A food desert is a geographic area where residents have limited access to affordable, nutritious food, particularly due to a lack of nearby supermarkets or large grocery stores. These areas are often found in low-income neighborhoods and are characterized by a lack of transportation options, making residents more reliant on convenience stores or fast-food restaurants with fewer dietary options.
Extensive work has already been done on the building in the center of downtown Lagro. The building is owned by the foundation and would be set up as a cooperative for community members. All members of the public will be able to shop at the store. Those choosing to pay a fee may join the cooperative and receive membership benefits yet to be determined. All profits from the market return to the foundation for future community projects.
The Lagro Canal Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the cultural, historical, and economic vitality of Lagro. Through community programs, local partnerships and events, the foundation aims to support local businesses, enhance the community experience, and drive sustainable development in the region, according the tenets of the foundation’s board.
The county commissioners unanimous approval last Monday comes amid a recent blow received by the Lagro Canal Foundation from the state.
Several months ago, the foundation was notified a portion of its Stellar Pathways Program grant was being rescinded.
Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced late last year the county would receive $7 million in funding for numerous community projects, one of those being the grocery store in Largo. That project was to receive $100,000 directly from the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.
Due to a state revenue shortfall of $2.4 billion, lawmakers reduced funding to numerous state agencies, including a 17 percent reduction to ISDA’s budget. “This has really, really been a hardship on us. We were counting on these funds,” added Gillespie.
Initially, during commissioners’ 2025 budgetary meetings, $25,000 was approved for the foundation. However, that amount was reduced to $5,000 by commissioners. The reduction was to help offset lost revenue stemming from Senate Bill 1, passed in the spring.
That bill aims to provide property tax relief for Indiana homeowners, farmers, and businesses while implementing new financial rules for local governments and school districts. Smaller municipalities rallied against the bill when it was proposed because they said communities would stand to lose millions of dollars in revenue. Wabash Mayor Scott Long and the Wabash City Council even sent state legislators a formal resolution in February encouraging them to vote against the bill. Long said the public was being sold a bill of goods that would financially hinder smaller Hoosier communities.
Subsequently, Gillespie and foundation members returned to the commissioners in August to ask for reconsideration of full funding of the original $25,000 request to help offset some of the loss by the state’s rescinding of the $100,000 grant.
Despite the setback, Lagro Canal Foundation board members still hope a first-quarter 2026 opening for the store is still possible.
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