Earlham College has been selected for an Economic Development Partnership Award by the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County.
The award celebrates Earlham’s commitment to collaboration in the launch of Revitalize Richmond, a five-year effort powered by more than $100 million in investments to help the College and Richmond grow.
“Revitalize Richmond represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will impact thousands of people in our region,” said Valerie Shaffer, president of the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County. “We can’t thank Earlham enough for their leadership and shared vision for our community’s long-term success.”
In December 2023 Earlham was awarded a $25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., through its College and Community Collaboration initiative. An additional $83 million in cost-share funding has been committed by Earlham’s partners in the effort.
Projects include the development of new urban housing in downtown, improved transit connecting Earlham’s campus to downtown, new outdoor recreation opportunities in the Whitewater Valley Gorge and other quality-of-place improvements.
“Revitalize Richmond has the power to transform and elevate our hometown,” Earlham President Anne Houtman said. “Each of these projects will help Earlham and other Wayne County employers recruit and retain talent and inspire new investment downtown. By working toward a common purpose, we are forging a path toward progress and prosperity.”
“Revitalize Richmond has the power to transform and elevate our hometown. Each of these projects will help Earlham and other Wayne County employers recruit and retain talent and inspire new investment downtown. By working toward a common purpose, we are forging a path toward progress and prosperity.”
Anne Houtman
In addition to the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County, Earlham College is partnering on Revitalize Richmond with the City of Richmond, Wayne County Foundation, Forward Wayne County, Main Street Richmond, Richmond Neighborhood Restoration, and Earlham graduates Eric and Becky Dimick Eastman, the founders of a nascent makerspace to be located in downtown.
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About Earlham College
Earlham College and Earlham School of Religion foster a collaborative learning community that inspires and motivates students with transformative opportunities and experiences so they can become catalysts for good in a changing world. Located in Richmond, Indiana, Earlham is one of U.S. News & World Report’s Top 100 national liberal arts colleges and offers one of the top 20 classroom experiences in the nation, according to the Princeton Review.
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