Cass County Community Foundation awarded $5 million grant for Farmers Market, facilities
Last Updated on December 17, 2024 by Cass County Communication Network
The Cass County Community Foundation has received a grant of $5 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. through the Community Leadership Implementation Grants component of the eighth phase of its Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT VIII) initiative. This is one of 30 implementation grants being awarded through GIFT VIII, a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative designed to support the efforts of community foundations and their partners to strengthen quality of life for the people in the towns, cities, counties, and regions they serve.
With the grant, the Cass County Community Foundation will be collaborating with our partners to construct a permanent farmer’s market, commercial incubator kitchen and community gardening plots.
CCCF President & CEO Deanna Crispen stated, “This grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. is truly a blessing to our entire community and the result of hours of planning, multiple partners, and community meetings. We are inspired by the community support and the outstanding support of Lilly Endowment. This project is the next step in moving our downtown and community forward.”
In 1990, Lilly Endowment launched the Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) initiative to help establish and further develop community foundations throughout Indiana. Lilly Endowment hoped that Indiana’s community foundations could enhance the quality of life in their communities by convening conversations among people of diverse ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, occupations, races and cultural traditions about their communities’ most compelling needs and opportunities as well as the best ways to address them.
About Lilly Endowment
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. The Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, and maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.
SOURCE: News release from Cass County Community Foundation