Project Overview

Clay County, IN boasts a population of 26,410 residents with a poverty rate of 9.8%. Much of the County is rural. Since 2009, the REIN Coalition, comprised of Clay County residents, has worked diligently towards the creation of a community center to enhance four key areas within the County and West Central Indiana region: recreation, education, information & nutrition. The Coalition’s vision for a new and unique center to create a comprehensive space with amenities such as meeting space, a large food pantry, event space, and more, led to the beginning of construction on the Wilma & Liston Buell Community Center in August 2021, made possible by a donation from Dick Buell. Construction was planned to start in 2020 but was delayed due to the pandemic. The pandemic’s lasting effects have impacted the project’s progress through increased construction costs and constrained revenue streams. The $220,000 in READI funds will be utilized to pay for equipment, materials and supplies, earthwork, structure and framing, interior development and mechanical and electrical completion, with anticipated project completion in October 2022. Key performance indicators will look at the number of individuals and groups using the space for events and the number of events held at the center over the course of each year. In measuring the food pantry’s success, a key performance indicator will analyze the constancy of individuals utilizing this resource. The REIN Coalition will maintain ownership.