LAGRANGE – Some money has been given to help develop and implement one unified countywide comprehensive community plan for LaGrange County.

The LaGrange County Community Foundation has received a Community Leadership Grant of $100,000 as part of the seventh phase of Lilly Endowment Inc.'s Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow initiative.

The LaGrange County Community Foundation is one of 84 foundations in Indiana receiving grants through the round of GIFT VII grant making. Lilly Endowment created the GIFT in 1990 to help local communities in the Hoosier State develop the philanthropic capacity to identify local needs and challenges.

Octavia Yoder, Executive Director of the LaGrange County Community Foundation, says they are grateful for the Lilly Endowment's continued support. She says the grant will allow the County to develop strategies to improve the quality of life in LaGrange County.

The Foundation is partnering with the LaGrange County Plan Commission, the County, the Towns and the Region 3-A Regional Planning Commission to develop a plan that will provide strategic direction for LaGrange County's future. The County has provided an additional $100,000 toward the project, and are seeking a qualified consultant to lead the planning process, which is slated to begin in April 2021

Once a consultant is selected, the comprehensive plan steering committee will be focused on engaging community residents in decisions about the future direction of the County. Once the plan is finalized it will be provided to the LaGrange County Commission for adoption.