INDIANAPOLIS – 16 Tech Community Corporation, the non-profit organization leading the physical and programmatic development of the 16 Tech Innovation District, announced $300,000 in grant awards to 11 resident-endorsed projects that directly benefit the vitality of nearby neighborhoods.
The grant awards mark the third cycle of funding of the 16 Tech Community Investment Fund, a community-focused fund launched in 2019 to ensure access and opportunity for neighbors of the 16 Tech Innovation District. 16 Tech has awarded a total of $1.3 million in funding to 40 projects since 2020.
“The 16 Tech Community Investment Fund grantees exemplify the incredible work happening in the neighborhoods near 16 Tech,” said Bob Coy, 16 Tech Community Corporation president and CEO. “We’re proud to continue to invest in projects that will directly benefit our neighbors.”
The 16 Tech Community Investment Fund is guided by an advisory committee that ensures the fund, and its grants, align with the priorities identified by residents in the Near West, Near Northwest and surrounding neighborhoods, with a focus on workforce training, business support, education, neighborhood capacity building, and infrastructure and beautification.
Grants were awarded from two funding pools. The innovation pool funded requests up to $25,000 from neighborhood organizations with annual operating budgets of less than $1 million. The impact pool funded requests up to $100,000.
The slate of Community Investment Fund grantees includes:
Workforce training:
- Believers United in Local Development ($20,000): Workforce training opportunities for young adults in construction and ecology
- The Learning Tree ($16,000): Spolks, a bike mechanic workforce training program
Business support:
- Source Entrepreneurship Center ($12,000): Revitalization of pockets of the West 16th Street Corridor
Education:
- Identity Complex LLC ($20,000): Documentary film production about Haughville, featuring longtime residents
- Vision Academy @ Riverside ($15,000): Expansion of out-of-school STEM programming with local partners
Neighborhood capacity building:
- Indy Convergence ($30,000): Growth of internal staff capacity for program management
Infrastructure and beautification:
- Flanner House of Indianapolis ($55,000): Expansion of home ownership initiative for Near Northwest residents through rehab-resale program
- Groundwork Indy ($50,000): Youth engagement in community-based projects in Near Northwest, focused on incorporating life skills, job training and certification
- Rebuilding Together Indianapolis ($40,000): Community Spring Rebuild Day 2022 with housing repairs for vulnerable populations
- Parks Alliance of Indianapolis ($30,000): Completion of interactive Riverside Promenade nodes and public art plan
- Indianapolis Shakespeare Company ($12,000): Hip hop Shakespeare production at the Taggart Memorial Theatre
Deadlines for the fourth funding cycle will be announced in March 2022.
The 16 Tech Community Investment Fund was seeded with $3 million in public funding through the City of Indianapolis and will be sustained long-term through a $0.20-per-square-foot assessment paid by tenants in the 16 Tech Innovation District. The 16 Tech Community Corporation will also seek philanthropic funding from individuals and organizations interested in investing in communities in and around 16 Tech.
To learn more about the 16 Tech Community Investment Fund, visit //16tech.com/grantees.
About 16 Tech
16 Tech Innovation District is a 50-acre live-work-innovate community dedicated to world-changing innovation and economic opportunity. Located in the historic Riverside neighborhood of Indianapolis, 16 Tech brings together entrepreneurs, academics, corporations, creatives in a single place to spark the exchange of ideas that lead to innovation. The nonprofit 16 Tech Community Corporation leads the physical and programmatic development of the district and ensures benefits of economic growth, new investment and job creation extend to nearby neighborhoods as well as the city, the region and the state. More information can be found at 16tech.com.
