The Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment has announced 13 grants totaling more than $300 million to Indiana educational institutions in support of community development projects to improve quality of life and place.

Awarded through the second and final round of the endowment’s College and Community Collaboration (CCC) initiative, the grants will support colleges and universities in the state for projects jointly envisioned with community stakeholders to undertake significant community development efforts. Recipients include DePauw University in Greencastle, which was awarded $32 million for efforts to enhance downtown vibrancy, improve downtown and campus connectivity, and create and enhance community amenities, including a new aquatics center at the local YMCA and a mixed-use development within a public square; the Indiana Institute of Technology, which will receive $21 million to help create a space dedicated to STEM education and training, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the growing Electric Works development near downtown Fort Wayne; Marian University in Indianapolis, which was awarded $25 million to establish the Riverside Education Innovation District; and the University of Notre Dame, which will receive $30 million to create a tech and talent district in the downtown South Bend area.

The CCC initiative was launched in early 2023, and the first round of implementation grants, which totaled $145.8 million, were announced in December 2023. At present, the endowment has approved a total of more than $458 million in planning and implementation grants through CCC.

“While varied in scope and reach, the proposed initiatives and projects reflect a commitment by stakeholders, inclusive of faculty, staff, and students from these institutions, business leaders, government officials, and community leaders, to create vibrant communities where all residents can thrive,” said endowment president Jennett M. Hill. “The endowment looks forward to seeing all the projects in the CCC initiative evolve. We are enthusiastic about the prospects for both the institutions and communities, and are eager to see these institutions and their community stakeholders collaborate to breathe life into their promising projects.”

For a complete list of the latest grantees, see the Lilly Endowment website.

(Photo credit: DePauw University)