A downtrodden portion of Indianapolis has been granted more than $8 million from the Obama Administration for revitalization.
The Circle City’s near-eastside neighborhood – just east of downtown – is one of eight areas designated by the Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture as “Promise Zones.” Also on the list are parts of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Sacramento, California and St. Louis County, Missouri.
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard says the grant, which will be added to $2 million in local matching funds, will target areas of community development that the near-eastside could use, including crime prevention and growing small businesses.
Some of the money will also go to funding early childhood education, which the Ballard Administration has focused on during this, the last year of his tenure in office.