INDIANAPOLIS (December 10, 2013)– The Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC), in partnership with the City of Indianapolis, today announced that GIPC has received a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The grant will enable GIPC to play a lead role in the creation of a comprehensive plan for the City’s future called “The Bicentennial Plan of Indianapolis: Plan 2020.”
“Indy’s success today is due to decades of great planning and leadership,” said Mayor Greg Ballard. “This Plan 2020 will combine many different plans that are already in place into a single cohesive document that will help guide city leaders in moving Indy forward.”
GIPC will help lead an inclusive planning initiative that will incorporate elements from the Marion County Comprehensive, Thoroughfare, Regional Center, Community Development and Economic Development Plans. It will also include plans developed by other partner organizations such as: IDI’s Velocity Plan, Reconnecting to our Waterways, IndyConnect, Master Bikeways and Greenways, and other quality of life and neighborhood development plans.
“For decades the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee has taken a lead role in helping to chart a bold new future for our City,” said Murray Clark, Chairman of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee. “We are extremely excited to be called upon once again to help shape the City’s bicentennial success and beyond.”
The grant from Lilly Endowment will be administered by the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee in partnership with the Department of Metropolitan Development, which will provide subject matter and planning experience.
“There are a number of public and private sector groups and individuals who are passionate about the future of this great city,” said Adam Thies, Director of the Department of Metropolitan Development. “This process will bring into alignment much of their great work along with the various plans we are required to maintain and update at the City and County level.”
This planning process is expected to get underway early next year in the old Indianapolis City Hall. Renovations to prepare the historic facility for hosting the work began yesterday. The team assigned to the project is expected to spend most of 2014 developing the Bicentennial Plan. It will be available for public review, comment and approval by required boards and commissions by the end of 2015.