North Manchester adopts downtown revitalization plan, cites $40,000 federal planning grant

The North Manchester Town Council approved a resolution adopting the town’s downtown revitalization plan after a required second public hearing and a presentation by the plan’s grant administrator.

Mike Klein Peter of Klein Peter Consulting Group told the council the town received a $40,000 community development block grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs to fund downtown planning, and described the competitive RFQ that led the town to hire MKM Architecture & Design to prepare recommended options and action steps. “The town did receive $40,000 in grant funds for this plan, and they did contribute a local match of $5,995,” Klein Peter said during the hearing.

The council then considered Resolution No. 5, 2025, a local resolution approving the downtown revitalization plan. The resolution text read into the record states the town contributed a local match of $4,495; the council’s approval was recorded as contingent on comments and final approval from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The council moved, seconded and approved the resolution by voice vote.

Adam, who led committee work on the plan, said the project drew on an internal committee and prior community planning efforts including the town’s comprehensive plan and Imagine 185 work. He said the committee met three times, the draft was available to the public for more than 30 days, and—if adopted—the plan will remain available for funding pursuits for up to five years.

Council members closed the public hearing after no members of the public offered comments.

The resolution will be updated to reflect any comments from OCRA and a final plan will be kept on file at town offices. The council did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting minutes; the motion passed on a voice vote.