Center earns award (09/23/06)

A collaborative effort between the city of Portland and Jay County has earned Portland an award from the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns.

The award, which will be presented Monday during the IACT annual conference in Indianapolis, is for the conception and creation of the Community Resource Center, a renovated downtown building which serves as the home for five public and private city and county entities.

The center, located at 118 S. Meridian St., opened in May of 2005 after a renovation by owner/developer Barry Hudson. It houses Jay County Development Corporation, Jay County Community Development, Jay/Portland Building and Planning, Portland Area Chamber of Commerce and Jay County Visitor and Tourism Bureau.

The Portland City Council purchased the building in the fall of 2005 using economic development income tax funds. The cost was approximately $327,000.

In an e-mail release Friday, IACT president and Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson said, "The Community Resource Center started as a simple public-private partnership and has really evolved. Already it has achieved great results and will continue to have far-reaching impacts in the city of Portland and Jay County."

Also receiving IACT Community Achievement Awards next week will be Muncie (population of 25,000 and over), Millennium Place; Crown Point (13,000-25,000), facade grant program; and Fremont (under 5,000), collaborative building projects.[[In-content Ad]]