Community Vitality Program

community painting crosswalk bright colorsPurdue Extension, through the Downing Endowment for Community Vitality, is excited to announce the inaugural cohort of the Community Vitality Program. This partnership opportunity aims to cultivate thriving Indiana communities by delivering research-based education and resources that strengthen economic opportunity, enhance personal and family well-being, foster environmental stewardship, and build inclusive leadership capacity, creating vibrant places where all can flourish.

Informational Webinar

If you would like more information, please join Jeff Walker, Community Vitality Specialist, on February 10, 2026 at 10:30 am ET for an informational webinar about the Community Vitality Program, a walk through of the Letter of Intent and Application, and time for questions.

Register for Informational Webinar

Interested communities should submit a Letter of Intent on February 20, 2026 by 5 pm ET. The Full Application should be submitted on March 20, 2026 by 5 pm ET. Two communities will be selected for the Community Vitality Program’s inaugural year.

Program & Application Information

Once selected communities are announced, the Community Vitality Program will begin in April 2026 and continue through April 2027. Local teams in each community will begin the process by participating for free in Purdue Extension programs that support communities in planning together and completing community projects. Two well-known offerings include Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing (BGGW) and Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces (EVPS).
  • BGGW teaches those new to grant writing (or desiring review) how to create a proposal and seek financial support from funders. More information about the BGGW program.
  • EVPS guides communities through public conversations to create an action plan focused on placemaking and creating a healthier community. This plan will guide the local teams’ efforts to address one of five thematic areas in their community. More information about the EVPS program.

Local teams will finish these programs with an action plan and grant proposal. Purdue Extension staff will provide coaching in implementing projects, securing funding for projects, and building community support for remainder of the year long program. Projects will be focused in one of the five thematic areas listed on the Community Vitality landing page.

For the Community Vitality Program, community is defined as a group of people who share a readiness to act on a community need/opportunity and a shared geography. Examples of shared geography may include an unincorporated area in a township, partnering towns, a neighborhood association, a single city, or adjoining counties.

In 2026, we are accepting applicants from communities in the following counties: Benton, Blackford, Delaware, Fountain, Henry, Jay, Randolph, Tippecanoe, Warren, and Wayne.

To be considered, communities must submit the following:

  1. A Letter of Intent - Due February 20, 2026 by 5 pm ET
    Letter of Intent Form 
  2. An Application: Due March 20, 2026 by 5 pm ET 
    Application Form
This two-step process allows time to assist communities interested in applying to the Community Vitality Program.

All Community Vitality Program applications will be carefully considered by a review panel of Purdue Extension staff and external partners. Scoring will be guided by a rubric, which we encourage communities to request and review as they write their application. Communities will be informed of their selection status for the Community Vitality Program in April 2026.

If you have any questions about the Community Vitality Program or would like to access editable versions of the letter of intent, application, and scoring rubric please contact:

Jeff Walker, Community Vitality Specialist
walke526@purdue.edu
859-553-4117