Henry County Commissioners on May 28 unanimously adopted a resolution committing local match funds and authorized signatures for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application to renovate the Henry County Expo Center banquet hall.

The action authorizes the county executive to submit the grant application to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and commits a local match that the application lists as $161,605, including cash donations and $12,000 in in-kind services, the resolution states.

The vote came after Tina Henderson, grant administrator with Mendenhall and Associates, told commissioners that the Expo Board had raised the local match through donations and pledged in-kind services. "We are just excited to announce that they've raised the local match that was necessary through community donations," Henderson said.

Nut graf: The county's signed resolution and the accompanying signature forms are required pieces of the CDBG application; Henderson said the county's action puts the application in place ahead of the program deadline and that award notifications are expected in mid-August.

Henderson told commissioners the Expo Board is prepared to complete plans and specifications now so that, if the county is awarded funding, the project can proceed more quickly. She said plans and specifications paid for prior to an award can be counted as local match for up to 18 months.

Project supporters also provided details about the project's demonstrated need for CDBG national-objective qualification. Henderson said an income survey shows 55.5% of the relevant area is low- to moderate-income, and that the survey will be valid for four years and available to county staff and local groups.

As part of the application process, Henderson presented three final forms: a local-match resolution (No. 2025-05-28008), a local match letter for signatures, and the application signature form. The commission voted 3-0 to adopt the resolution and to authorize signatures on the application forms.

Henderson said the county should expect a contract from the project's engineer within 30 days to prepare plans and specifications in advance of award. She also announced a public hearing on the application set for June 11 at 7 p.m. in the Smith Building and invited commissioners and the public to attend.

Ending: Commissioners recorded the formal votes needed to complete the application and signatures. Henderson and Expo Center president Brianna Chapman remained available to answer follow-up questions and to provide the county with application documents for submission.