Programs and Services

Stategic Community Planning
Comprehensive Land Use Planning
Economic development
Community Development

We are taking action! Benton Community Foundation serves a multifaceted role as convener, facilitator, coordinator, and leader of several projects that are addressing critical needs in Benton County:

Strategic Community Planning
Beginning in February 2005, nearly 300 Benton residents embarked on strategic planning for the future of Benton County. Benton 2025: Beyond Today and Tomorrow has evolved into six taskforces taking specific action on:

• Land use/natural resources
• Economic development
• Education
• Wellness
• Leadership
• Cooperation

Contact BCF for information on conveners and schedules of county-wide activity. Look for Benton 2025 YES! brochures in libraries, banks, and local businesses.

Comprehensive Land Use Planning
Your community foundation secured local funding from towns and county governments and Farm Bureau to provide the required match for an Indiana Rural Development grant to complete a Comprehensive Land Use Plan and supporting zoning ordinances by April 2007. For more information about public participation contact Benton Community Foundation, Benton County Extension Office, and Benton County Advisory Plan Commission.

Economic Development
Benton Community Foundation has initiated several activities to spur economic development including:

• Securing a grant from the Indiana Rural Development Council through April 2007 and matching local funding from the County and six incorporated towns to complete: first phase strategic plan, comprehensive land use plan, and updated zoning ordinances coherent with the new land use plan.
• Continuously convening elected officials and volunteer residents to resolve competitive confrontations as the County moves to county-wide initiatives.
• Securing a Community Development Action Grant through April 2007 and matching local public and private funding to establish a local economic development organization as an independent non-profit 501c6 organization, i.e., BC-LEDO.
• Recruiting an experienced economic development professional to establish BC-LEDO.
• Securing public and private pledges for continuation of funding for BC-LEDO post April 2007.
• Providing grant for feasibility study for ethanol production plant.
• Providing funding for county-wide industrial property inventory, newly sited at www.benton4biz.com.
• Providing funding for county-wide event calendar at www.benton4biz.com to promote cross-country participation and tourism to local events.
• Renovating two conjoined building in downtown Fowler into retail spaces and establishing leases for two expanded businesses owned by County residents.'

Community Development
Utilizing the strategic planning taskforce deliberations and the competitive 2006 Community Grants program, BCF has supported the following community development initiatives:

• Establishing a Lafayette Family YMCA Benton County Program Center, utilizing existing County sites to conduct family fitness and recreation programs
• Contributing to the Fowler Skatepark development activity of youth and adults; assisting in securing last-dollar construction funding from sources external to Benton County
• Funding a community resource guide that provides information about government, school, social services, and business activities in the County
• Continuing role as "point organization" for data gathering, opinion gathering, and political analyses for initiatives being considered by persons and organizations external to the County, e.g., health services, post-secondary education, economic development

These are some more ways we are helping - for giving, for good, for Benton.