Rental assistance, the Broadband Ready Community Program and more programs are part of the Rural Road to Recovery Initiative, which seeks to help communities in rural areas to fix problems and regain economic ground after the pandemic began.

“Rural Indiana is not immune to the disruptions of COVID-19, and it is impacting our families, farms and local businesses. Our communities are key to the state's economic success, and through the Rural Road to Recovery initiative, universities and state agencies are joining forces to offer solutions and aid rural areas in our comeback,” Rep. Steve Davisson (R-Salem) said in a press release in late August from Indiana House Republicans. 

The state has made $95 million available for rental and mortgage assistance: $30 million for mortgage help; $40 million for the Low-Income Housing Emergency Assistance program and $25 million for rental assistance in most counties). 

The Rural Road to Recovery Initiative also supports farmers, agribusiness owners and others to strengthen the state’s supply chain. For example, Indiana Grown is connecting farmers with different food banks and pantries to sell and distribute their Hoosier-made products and assisting restaurants with social distancing guidelines to adjust their businesses reopening to dining customers.

“This is just the start to rural Indiana's recovery, and innovative solutions will continue to be found as state leaders hold summer study committee hearings and gather for the next legislative session,” Davisson said in the press release. 

Learn more at IndianaHousingNow.org.