Three higher education institutions in East Central Indiana have received grants from the Lilly Endowment Inc. to support community development projects.

Ball State University received a grant of $35 million which will support the University’s ambitious, long-term plan to revitalize The Village, the commercial district adjacent to Ball State’s campus. The majority of the grant will support the design and construction of a new performing arts center, which will serve as the catalyst for the entire project. The Lilly Endowment grant enables the University to leverage additional development projects, including a new 100-room Tapestry by Hilton Hotel as well as new restaurants and retailers. For several years, the University has been developing plans for a revitalized Village in conjunction with elected officials in Muncie and Delaware County and two private development partners, Fairmount Properties and Indianapolis-based Schahet Hotels.

Taylor University received a $30 million grant to partially support a comprehensive strategy to build or improve assets along a one-mile corridor connecting the campus to downtown Upland. Efforts will include the development of a campus inn; residential properties adjacent to campus and mixed-use retail spaces; renovations to the Upland Public Library; and development of an entrepreneurship program that will enable university staff to support emerging entrepreneurs and small-and medium-sized businesses in Upland.

Earlham College received a $25 million grant to support an initiative to revitalize downtown Richmond and better connect it with the Earlham campus. The grant will provide partial support to restore historic buildings for commercial and residential uses; develop a multimodal pathway to connect downtown Richmond and the campus; and make improvements to Whitewater Gorge Park. With the funding, Earlham will “provide partial support to restore historic buildings for commercial and residential uses, make improvements to Whitewater River Gorge Park and develop a multi-modal pathway to better connect downtown Richmond and the college campus.”

For more information, visit Lilly Endowment.