INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Democratic Party, the organization that advocates for the future of Indiana and its families, today celebrated the brighter future the American Rescue Plan is STILL creating for Indiana’s economy. This time, the Rescue Plan is providing more than $9 million to Goshen, Huntingburg, and Rensselaer to support business and tourism growth and workforce training in those respective communities. These transformational investments will create about 1,300 jobs across Indiana. 

Simply put: Indiana Democrats like André Carson and Frank Mrvan delivered these investments to Hoosiers when it mattered most. Here’s what the American Rescue Plan is delivering for Hoosiers in these areas: 

1. Goshen: $4 million grant to expand a building in Goshen College’s nursing program and quadruple its student population, 
2. Huntingburg: $3.2 million grant to update its wastewater treatment facility and help meet demands for new businesses in the area, and 
3. Rensselaer: $1.8 million grant to revitalize local city infrastructure and boost tourism in its downtown community. 

In contrast, the Indiana Republican Party – including Todd Young, Jim Baird, Larry Bucshon, and Jackie Walorski – said “NO” to this brighter future. Indiana GOP Chairman Kyle Hupfer called this project “socialism” – claiming the Republicans’ opposition was a “great campaign to run on”. The Indiana GOP’s opposition to the kitchen-table issues is another reminder they have no plan for Indiana’s future – just abiding by an extremist agenda. 

Here’s a look at how the American Rescue Plan continues to deliver for Indiana’s economy: 

U.S. Department of Commerce: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE INVESTS $4 MILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS TO EXPAND NURSING WORKFORCE TRAINING IN GOSHEN, INDIANA

“Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $4 million grant to Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana, to renovate a campus building to expand the college’s nursing program. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan.

This grant would allow the college to quadruple the number of nursing students it trains to help fill the shortage of nursing professionals that was exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. The EDA investment will be matched with $1.7 million in local funds and is expected to create 848 jobs, according to grantee estimates.”

U.S. Department of Commerce: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE INVESTS $3.2 MILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS TO SUPPORT BUSINESS GROWTH IN HUNTINGBURG, INDIANA

“Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.2 million grant to the city of Huntingburg, Indiana, to upgrade its wastewater treatment facility to provide enhanced capacity for regional business growth. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan and EDA’s $300 million Coal Communities Commitment.

This grant will provide added wastewater treatment capacity to attract new companies and allow for existing businesses to expand in the six-county region that has been impacted by the declining use of coal. The EDA investment will be matched with $14.5 million in local funds and is expected to create 400 jobs, retain 1,850 jobs and generate $200 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.”

U.S. Department of Commerce: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE INVESTS $1.8 MILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS TO SUPPORT TOURISM GROWTH IN RENSSELAER, INDIANA

“Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.8 million grant to the city of Rensselaer, Indiana, to make streetscape infrastructure improvements that will help boost tourism in the core of the city’s downtown. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan.

This grant will drive the growth of the local tourism sector by providing downtown Rensselaer with new sidewalks, pedestrian/bicycle paths, improved American with Disabilities Access (ADA) access, stormwater improvements, new lighting, new trash receptacles, and renovated brick streets on Van Rensselaer and Harrison streets. The EDA investment will be matched with $795,300 in local funds and is expected to create 50 jobs, retain 69 jobs and generate $200,000 in private investment, according to grantee estimates.”

###