Thrive West Central in partnership with Montgomery County, the City of Crawfordsville, the Greater Lafayette Region (READI Region) and Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) is paving the way to the future of sustainable housing with its groundbreaking “Homes for the Future” program. The new initiative aims to stimulate the production of quality, age-friendly homes throughout West Central Indiana, addressing the region’s burgeoning demand for sustainable, future-ready housing.
Backed by a significant $1.175 million grant from the Greater Lafayette READI Region, the program aims to incentivize homebuilders to create age-friendly, market-rate homes, addressing the growing needs of the evolving workforce and diverse population. Developers and homebuilders selected through a rigorous request for funding (RFP) proposal process could receive between $100,000 to $245,000 to cover eligible infrastructure expenses upon the completion of the project. The funding will be targeting in-fill lots and second-story housing throughout the county.
“We are excited to launch Homes for the Future as part of our multipronged approach to cultivating housing growth to meet the growing demand in our community,” said Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton. “This program will be invaluable in addressing the challenges associated with infill housing and second-story housing in areas where infrastructure already exists.”
This investment represents more than new housing, said Montgomery County Commissioner Jake Bohlander.
“It is an investment in the future of Montgomery County and the people who call it home,” he said. “Through strong regional partnerships and innovative programs like Homes for the Future, we are creating opportunities for families, workers, and retirees to live in quality housing that meets their needs at every stage of life. We are excited to work alongside Thrive West Central, the City of Crawfordsville, and our regional partners to build stronger, more vibrant communities for generations to come.”
In its approach to engaging the best possible partners for housing development in this growing region of Indiana, Thrive has created a competitive RFP process on behalf of Montgomery County that is open and accessible to any parties interested in home development throughout the County. The selection committee will meticulously score, and award proposals based on a defined scoring rubric and with support of the local municipalities.
Thrive West Central invites interested applicants to access its resource library to view housing studies, market potential research, and the Homes for the Future program at Montgomery County to better understand the specific housing needs within the eligible regions. The market potential research shows:
• As determined by the target market methodology, an annual average of 1,175 households represent the potential market for new and existing housing units within Montgomery County each year over the next five years.
• The households representing the potential market for new and existing housing units within the Montgomery County are broken down as 34% younger singles and childless couples, 40% traditional and non-traditional family households, and 26% empty nesters and retirees.
• Over the next five years and barring the occurrence of a housing or economic recession over the study period, the West Central Indiana Region could potentially absorb a total of 6,540 to 8,620 new housing units.
The Homes for the Future program is not just about numbers but quality as well. To fulfill this vision, Thrive West Central, the City of Crawfordsville, and Montgomery County is committed to partnering with developers and builders that prioritize quality, sustainability, and the incorporation of age-friendly housing design principles.
“Homes for the Future will catalyze an exciting new era of home development in our region,” said Ryan Keller, CEO of Thrive West Central. “We envision a future where sustainable, age-friendly homes are the norm — providing an environment where our communities can thrive for decades to come.”
The program’s timeframe sees all grant funding allocated to developer/builder projects in the fall of 2026, with completion of all projects expected by September 2028. Regular updates and ongoing communication will be integral to the partnerships, ensuring all projects’ successful and timely completion.
For more information, including the detailed RFP process, scoring criteria, eligible project requirements, timeline, and FAQs, visit online at https://thrivewestcentral.com/housing/homesforthefuturemontgomery/.
Thrive will host a public meeting for anyone who is interested in learning more about this program. Anyone who is in the housing ecosystem is encouraged to attend. An in-person event will take place 3-4:15 p.m. Aug. 31 at Hoosier Heartland State Bank Success Center, 1623 S. U.S. 231 Crawfordsville. There also will be a virtual information session 3-4:15 p.m. Sept. 2 at www.thrivewestcentral.com/MCHFTF54/.
