County 90: Daviess

In November, I-69 will be open from Evansville to Crane which will give communities along the interstate corridor quicker access to parts of the state and country. The city of Washington is looking to capitalize on the new traffic passing by their doorstep. I met with several local leaders to hear about their community initiatives as they sit on the cusp of the opening of this new gateway that will bring additional visitors through the city.



Lt. Governor Skillman talked with Daviess County
representatives during her visit there earlier
this month.



Washington worked closely with the state to move their city forward. In 2006, they received a $525,000 Community Focus Fund grant from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Driving into town, I saw many of the improvements these dollars funded including new streetscapes and façade upgrades. It was a wow moment driving down Main Street to see that there were no vacancies and that every store was filled with a business.

The city was also awarded a $4.1 million Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. The new neighborhood on the west end of town is a great addition to the community. The NSP program helps in two capacities - to clean up a blighted area of town and to put lower income Hoosiers in safe, affordable housing. These dollars are highly competitive and the community should be extremely proud of the results.

There are also many great programs going on at the schools including CEO. This program partners students with different company CEOs, and they learn leadership skills directly from top executives. In a story I read, one student expressed her ability to work with adults and communicate effectively with people much older than herself. The student said many kids have had everything done for them, but the CEO program allowed them to be treated like an adult and act like one too. 

Community leaders are active in improving the quality of life for the community, providing solid educational opportunities and securing grant dollars to advance the city’s long term plans. As the interstate lanes open, Washington is in the perfect place for major economic growth. I look forward to pulling off in Washington in the future as I cruise down I-69.