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Greencastle, Ind. - Stimulating the economy and
creating jobs in Putnam County are among the goals of a new
initiative announced by DePauw University and the
Greencastle/Putnam County Economic Development Center.
Through the Putnam County Economic Development
Partnership Fund, DePauw will provide matching seed funds up to a
maximum of $20,000 per year, as well as in-kind services and
resources, to support various economic development projects in
Putnam County that connect to internship and educational
opportunities for DePauw students.
The initiative is funded by a $750,000 grant awarded to the
University in 2003 by Lilly Endowment as part of an effort to
reduce the "brain drain" in Indiana and encourage more
college graduates to remain and work in the state.
A group of community leaders and area businesses will collaborate
with DePauw officials to coordinate the grant review process, and
area leaders will work to provide additional funding and in-kind
resources to support applications funded through the venture fund.
"The Putnam County Economic Development Partnership Fund
provides an exciting opportunity for DePauw and the local
community to cooperate to create growth opportunities and to help
generate economic development on a local level," says Bill
Dory, executive director of the Greencastle/Putnam County
Development Center. By working together and sharing resources, we
can maximize the impact that we have on the community."
Especially encouraged to apply for the matching seed grants are
existing small to mid-sized Putnam County firms with projects that
foster economic development or job creation. Business activities
should focus on one of the five sectors identified as priorities
for economic development by the state: advanced manufacturing,
advanced logistics, information technology, life sciences and
biotech, and capital development.
Dennis Trinkle, associate vice president for academic affairs,
chief information officer and Tenzer Family University Professor
in Instructional Technology at DePauw, said the University also
will seek to interest DePauw alumni in returning to Putnam County
to establish businesses with support of the grants. "I'm
confident that this initiative and others will increase DePauw
student and alumni awareness of employment opportunities in
Indiana, stimulate economic investment and entrepreneurship in
Putnam County, enhance talent retention in the local community and
state, and provide even more opportunities for DePauw students and
our partners in Putnam County to acquire entrepreneurial and
intrapreneurial skills," Trinkle said. "We thank Lilly
Endowment for its confidence in our vision, and confidence that
these programs will make a very visible and positive
difference."
Grant applications will be accepted through November 15, 2004.
Interested business persons can obtain a paper application at the
Greencastle/Putnam County Economic Development Center, 2 South
Jackson Street, and at DePauw's 361° Office located in the Percy
Lavon Julian Science & Mathematics Center (room 131), 602
South College Avenue. The application, more information about the
Putnam County Economic Development Partnership Fund, and a
description of the Opportunity through Collaboration program are
available online at www.depauw.edu/it/opportunity.
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