By Heather Williams—
MUNCIE, IN—As the Muncie Action Plan (MAP) wraps up another productive year, we are excited to reflect on our efforts to enhance the quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County. As we gear up for our Annual Community Meeting on Wednesday, January 29th, at 6:00 p.m., we invite the public to join us in the Multi-purpose Room at Ivy Tech. During this gathering, each of our four task forces will present their accomplishments and progress throughout 2024. This article marks the third in a series of updates from our dedicated task force leaders, showcasing the impact of MAP’s initiatives and collaboration within the community.
MAP’s Task Force 3 is charged with improving Muncie’s Neighborhoods by cultivating partnerships around comprehensive, block-level strategies for improvement.
Task Force 3 was busy in 2024 collaborating with partners on several programs and events, including January’s kick-off of the inaugural class of CenterPoint Scholars. In partnership with Muncie Habitat for Humanity, 8twelve Coalition, Shafer Leadership Academy, Ball State’s Bowen Center for Public Affairs, and BSU’s Office of Community Engagement, applications were opened early in 2024 and ten Scholars were selected to participate in the year-long training program. CenterPoint Foundation, the City of Muncie, and the Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County provided funding for monthly programming on various topics including trust building, resident listening, project management, and crowd-based fundraising. Anyone interested in participating in the 2025 CenterPoint Scholars program can find out more information and apply online.
The 2024 IDEA Conference was held on March 2nd and was a celebration focused on “dressing to the nines” to commemorate the event’s 9th year. Co-hosted by MAP, Building Better Neighborhoods, and Shafer Leadership Academy, the event provided opportunities for over 130 attendees to network, share best practices, and connect with community resources. The day also included a State of the City presentation by Mayor Dan Ridenour; an update on the city’s plans for April’s solar eclipse from Michele Owen, and a review and highlights of various ARP projects. Old West End Neighborhood Association’s Brad King received the Neighborhood Leader of the Year. The Neighborhood Project of the Year was awarded to Minnetrista Central Neighborhood Association’s ARP micro-grant program. South Central and Whitely neighborhoods received awards for the most trash collected during clean-up days, presented by the Muncie Sanitary District. Anyone interested in attending the 2025 IDEA Conference can view the program and register online.
MAP’s Task Force 3 successfully allocated the final ARP dollars to neighborhoods awarded funding in round 2 of the Neighborhood ARP program. ARP round 1 funded 67 projects that spanned 19 neighborhoods for $791,120.78. ARP round 2 funds are currently being utilized in 10 neighborhoods to support the implementation of 18 projects that include community building events in Ludingwood, pocket park lighting in South Central, and a housing repair program for Whitely residents. MAP will continue to oversee and report on the progress of these projects and programs through the end of the federal granting period in 2026.
We look forward to sharing more details about these programs and events, as well as the various other initiatives that Task Force 3 supports at the January 29th Report to the Community.
We hope to see you there.
