County 89: Putnam

Indiana’s Stellar Communities program won a national award from the Council of State Community Development Agencies last month. We knew the program was a success and my recent visit to Greencastle, a pilot community in the Stellar Communities program, reinforced the fact that amazing things are taking shape.

Lt. Gov. Skillman meets with Audra Blasdel of DePauw
University and Deb Gould of Starbucks at the university's new
book store which is part of Greencastle's Stellar Community plan.

While in Greencastle, I toured DePauw University’s new Eli's Bookstore which includes a Starbucks Coffee shop. This bookstore is a shining example of what the Stellar Communities is all about – collaboration. Several state agencies have formed partnerships to fund comprehensive development projects, including the bookstore, in Greencastle where the city and DePauw University came together to win an entry into the program.

The local paper, the Banner Graphic, summarized my visit in a recent article,

Beaming from the moment she set foot in Eli's Bookstore Wednesday morning to the second she left with a Starbucks coffee in hand, Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman was as impressed as she was proud of what is happening in downtown Greencastle.

After all, in reality Skillman is the mother of the Stellar Communities program. And for now at least, Greencastle is her favorite child.

Skillman conceived it. She nurtured it along through proper state government channels. And now gets to watch it grow in Greencastle and three other Hoosier communities.

To continue reading this article from the Banner Graphic, visit http://www.bannergraphic.com/story/1900430.html.