Indianapolis LISC

The winner of the 2024 Indianapolis LISC Love Thy Neighborhood People's Choice Award and a $5,000 grant is...
New Hope of Indiana!

The winner of the 2024 Love Thy Neighborhood Awards Education category is… Indy Reads! The organization will take home $2500 to help further their mission of building literacy, English language, and job readiness skills to empower adults and families to reach their full potential.

The winner of the 2024 Love Thy Neighborhood Awards Vitality category is… Kheprw Institute! The organization’s Community Land Trust (CLT) empowers Black, Brown, and low-income residents to use land and housing to build community wealth, self-reliance and self-determination. The organization will take home $2500!

The winner of the 2024 Love Thy Neighborhood Awards Opportunity category is… Indianapolis Urban League. $2500 will go to the organization to assist entrepreneurs with developing, launching, sustaining, and growing minority small businesses through in-person and virtual workshops, short-term industry recognized training credentials, individualized coaching and support resources. Congratulations!

The winner of the 2024 Love Thy Neighborhood Awards Livability category is… New Hope of Indiana. Through compassionate, comprehensive care and unwavering advocacy for human dignity, New Hope of Indiana supports individuals with disabilities and their families to live their most fulfilling lives. The organization will receive $2,500 cash to help further its mission.

Last week LISC Indianapolis hosted our Developer on Tap series!

We're grateful for our community partners and stakeholders in attendance to support the return of this amazing series to convene developers, residents, and partners to connect and learn more about each other's work.

Congratulations on our Emerging Developers cohort members on their presentations to share their development work across Indianapolis!

Thank you for hosting!

My name is Sean Radford and I am serving as the LISC AmeriCorps member at Edna Martin Christian Center. Being an AmeriCorps member has given me the opportunity to perform work that I recognize is truly beneficial to others. Read more about Sean's journey: https://www.lisc.org/indianapolis/regional-stories/meet-lisc-americorps-members-indianapolis-sean-radford-edna-martin-christian-center/

My name is Kiaora Muhammad and I am serving as the LISC AmeriCorps member at Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center. I am serving in this role to have the chance to learn more about the work being done in a community center and get to network with other individuals who are seeking the same things as me. Read more about Kiaora's journey: https://ow.ly/xF6y50SEJA8

My name is Zaria Fancy and I am serving as the LISC AmeriCorps member at John B***r Neighborhood Centers. This program intrigued me because of the location of the building I’ll be working in and the opportunities for career advancement within the organization. Read more about Zaria's journey: https://ow.ly/oF8e50SEJne

LISC Indianapolis staff had a wonderful time at the United Way of Central Indiana Annual Celebration! We hope everyone enjoyed the popcorn!

Make sure you add this to your calendar!
Flanner House is the place to be August 3rd!

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) recently awarded $30,000 in predevelopment funds to Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center to expand their child care offerings to a nearby building. The funds will be used for project management, compliance consulting, and enhanced parent engagement planning. This project addresses the growing demand for licensed child care in Crooked Creek including those families with language barriers. Read more: https://ow.ly/TBtY50SEuP8

The Indianapolis LISC Income and Wealth Building team has been working closely with the Economic Mobility team at United Way of Central Indiana to enhance coaches’ knowledge and skills to continue supporting residents and neighbors throughout Indianapolis. This morning coaches from across the Center for Working Families and Bridges to Career Opportunities network learned about financial wellness for their personal finances.

The deadline has been extended for the Facade and Property Improvement Program to this Friday, July 19th. This round of funding is now available for both For-Profit businesses and Non-Profit organizations. https://www.lisc.org/indianapolis/what-we-do/economic-development/facade-and-property-improvement-program/

LISC Indy Facade & Property Improvement Program Grant - DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY!

Through the Small Business Facade and Property Improvement Program, LISC Indianapolis provides matching grants to property and business owners willing to renovate the street-front exteriors of their structures. This is a rebate program where business and property owners receive reimbursement for up to 50% of the cost of the project in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 for completed work. We are prioritizing minority/immigrant/ women-owned businesses, properties located in LISC neighborhoods, design elements that prevent crime, and COVID-19 adaptations. The application deadline is July 12. https://ow.ly/NLLa50Snq7u

On June 28th, the Supreme Court ruled that local governments can arrest unhoused people for sleeping in public places. LISC is profoundly disappointed with this decision as it allows the criminalization of the those who are unhoused and does not solve the growing homelessness crisis. Read LISC’s statement here:

LISC Statement on Supreme Court Ruling in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson | Local Initiatives Support Corporation The new SCOTUS ruling, rather than recognize the roots of homelessness and the resources needed to combat it, punishes those who are most vulnerable and ultimately undercuts the health of our communities and economy.

Thank you, State Farm! In Indianapolis, State Farm supports our Small Business Façade and Property Improvement Grant Program where business and property owners receive reimbursement for between 50-90% of the cost of the project in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 for completed work. The application for this funding is currently open and the deadline is July 12! https://www.lisc.org/indianapolis/what-we-do/economic-development/facade-and-property-improvement-program/

Big news! State Farm has committed a new $2M, one-year grant to support affordable housing, small business, income and wealth building, and healthy food access in under-resourced communities nationwide. With the new grant, State Farm’s support for LISC now totals $155M since 2000! We celebrate this renewed commitment by reflecting on our impact together in 2023. https://www.lisc.org/our-stories/story/lisc-state-farm-celebrating-more-two-decades-impact/

LISC + The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation are offering grants to to upgrade athletic facilities for youth in under-resourced communities. Join our June 26 webinar to learn how to build a strong proposal to submit by September 5. Register today: https://ow.ly/sJf750Se9BR

2023 WAS A PRETTY SPECIAL YEAR. So many forces came together to bring new energy and unprecedented funding to our work. Federal ARPA dollars flowed into neighborhoods in the form of technical assistance for small businesses and food access. Pilot programs like the Vacant Lot Acquisition Fund and Healthy Bridges to Careers in Tech were created to address community needs. Local funders doubled down on investments for economic and workforce development. It was a “comeback year” for our communities after the prolonged challenges of the pandemic.

On a national scale, the LISC family of programs and affiliates deployed $2.4 billion to bridge gaps in health, wealth, and opportunity across the country last year. We financed more than 18,275 affordable homes and nearly 1.2 million square feet of commercial, educational, and community space, along with jobs and local services for tens of thousands of people.

The way we design the strategies behind those numbers is also important. We draw on data, decades of experience, and crucially, the voices of communities themselves to identify how, where, and why gaps persist and what approaches work best to address them.

In Indianapolis, LISC invested more than $10 million in local neighborhoods. We provided nearly $2.2M in loan financing and $6.9M in program grants. LISC Indianapolis staff assisted 40 community-based organizations in a combined effort to build and transform 306,538 square feet of commercial space. Read the 2023 LISC Indianapolis Annual Report: https://report.lisc.org/2023-local-annual-report/indianapolis

LISC Indy Facade & Property Improvement Program Grant Application Open

Through the Small Business Facade and Property Improvement Program, LISC Indianapolis provides matching grants to property and business owners willing to renovate the street-front exteriors of their structures. This is a rebate program where business and property owners receive reimbursement for up to 50% of the cost of the project in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 for completed work. We are prioritizing minority/immigrant/ women-owned businesses, properties located in LISC neighborhoods, design elements that prevent crime, and COVID-19 adaptations. The application deadline is July 12. https://ow.ly/NLLa50Snq7u

We’re thrilled to work with The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation on the Game On-Community Places to Play Initiative! 🥎🏅🥍🏈⚽️ If you're a looking to build or renovate sports facilities for youth in under-resourced communities, apply for a grant by September 5: https://ow.ly/J8Yr50Se8vr

LISC Indianapolis Promotes Brandon Taylor to Deputy Director -
In his new role, Brandon will lead the day-to-day management of LISC Indianapolis operations, overseeing lending, community investment, and program strategy. Brandon's promotion is a testament to his dedication and expertise in community development. His leadership is crucial in advancing LISC Indianapolis’ mission to foster resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across the Indianapolis area.

Please join us in congratulating Brandon on his well-deserved promotion! Read more:
https://ow.ly/9yWp50S7aAv

Two Degrees works to create a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Marion County by empowering entrepreneurs through education, access to resources, and building a strong entrepreneurial community. The first cohorts of Two Degrees are nearing completion and to celebrate, the organization showcased participants this past Saturday with "feature booths" where they could present their early-stage business ideas to the general public.

LISC was onsite introducing entrepreneurs to the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program, designed to make small business learning accessible to all. From courses and live coaching sessions to personalized learning plans, it’s a free and easy way to bump up your skills and knowledge. Learn more! https://www.lisc.org/indianapolis/what-we-do/economic-development/verizon-small-business-digital-ready/

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, LISC is highlighting our Healthy Bridges to Careers in Tech pilot program that is built on the premise that holding a high-wage promising job with the right wraparound supports, is key to participants achieving self-sufficiency. The program not only addresses the diversity gap in the technology sector but also improves access to behavioral health services in the Black community. Learn more: https://www.lisc.org/indianapolis/what-we-do/financial-sustainability/healthy-bridges-careers-tech/

In Recognition and Celebration of AAPI Heritage Month

It's AAPI Heritage Month! Throughout the month, and every day, we honor the remarkable influence and contributions AAPI communities have made to this nation's history, culture, economy, and beyond. Ephraim Palmero, LISC Program Officer – Policy & Engagement, is a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines and discusses what Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month means to him.

https://www.lisc.org/indianapolis/regional-stories/recognition-and-celebration-aapi-heritage-month/

Old National Bank visited LISC Indianapolis staff and the Local Advisory Board to present $50,000 to support LISC's capacity to better support the Bridges to Career Opportunities network and program implementation.

LISC Indianapolis staff members Maria, Claudia, Kelsi, and Kelly attended this week’s 2024 Indiana Economic Development Course at Ball State University. The course is a comprehensive educational experience in the theory and practice of holistic approaches to building and sustaining vibrant communities.