Individual Income Tax Rates to Rise in Three Indiana Counties
Effective Jan. 1, 2022, three Indiana county income tax rates will increase, according to the Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR). Local income tax rates are determined by county officials and provided to DOR for review regarding compliance with Indiana law. The three counties impacted along with their new tax rates:
· Cass County: 0.0295 (increased from 0.027)
· Madison County: 0.0225 (increased from 0.0175)
· Randolph County: 0.03 (increased from 0.025)
These tax rates affect businesses with employees who live or work in any of these counties and have income tax withholdings. For Indiana residents on Jan. 1, 2022, county tax rates for individuals are based on the employee’s Indiana county of residence on that date. For individuals who are not Indiana residents on Jan. 1, 2022, county tax rates are based on the individual’s county of principal business or employment. Current rates for all Indiana counties are available on DOR’s website.
Bloomington residents invited to apply for City funds for 2022 Neighborhood Improvement Projects
The City of Bloomington Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) invites residents to apply for City funding to improve their neighborhoods. Applications for funding through the four kinds of neighborhood grants described below will be accepted for the 2022 application cycle beginning January 3, 2022.
Neighborhood Improvement Grant
The Neighborhood Improvement Grant is designed to give residents a direct role in the improvement of their neighborhoods. The funds provide for non-traditional capital projects with community-wide benefit, that are shown to have broad neighborhood support. Projects may include those not typically covered by traditional City programs, including physical improvements and public art. Funds may also be used to develop designs for a proposed project. Past grants have funded neighborhood entrance signs and street sign toppers, playground equipment, community benches, historic sidewalk restoration, message centers, public art installations, and landscaping.
To apply for a Neighborhood Improvement Grant, a representative from each neighborhood considering submission of an application must attend a virtual informational meeting, either on Tuesday, January 25 at 6 p.m. or Monday, January 31 at 7 p.m. (The meeting is not required of applicants for the additional neighborhood grants described below.) Letters of Intent are due on Monday, February 14. Applications are due on Monday, March 21. Please visit https://bloomington.in.gov/neighborhoods/grants/improvement for guidelines and application.
The Small & Simple Grant program offers funding up to $500/year from January 3 through September 1 through two programs:
Guidelines and applications for both kinds of Small & Simple grants are available at https://bloomington.in.gov/neighborhoods/grants/small-and-simple.
Neighborhood Cleanup Grant
The Neighborhood Cleanup Grant provides an opportunity for neighbors to work together to build community and instill pride in their neighborhood. A cleanup is a one-day event during which volunteers from the neighborhood receive City staff assistance and equipment to dispose of trash, tires, scrap metal, hazardous material, and brush. Through a competitive application process, two Neighborhood Cleanup Grants will be awarded in 2022. Please visit https://bloomington.in.gov/neighborhoods/grants/clean-ups for guidelines and application.
For more information, please contact Neighborhood Services Program Manager Angela Van Rooy at angela.vanrooy@bloomington.in.gov or 812-349-3505.
Opportunities for Grants in the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts Grants for Arts Projects
Grants for Arts Projects is the NEA’s principal grants program for organizations based in the United States. Through project-based funding, the program supports public engagement with, and access to, various forms of art across the nation, the creation of art, learning in the arts at all stages of life, and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life. Applicants may request cost share/matching grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. The application is due February 10, 2022.
Learn more and access the application.
National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America Grant
Challenge America offers support primarily to small organizations for projects in all artistic disciplines that extend the reach of the arts to populations that are underserved. The program seeks to address these potential barriers for organizations seeking funding. The program features an abbreviated application, a standardized $10,000 grant amount, and a robust structure of technical assistance to facilitate entry to NEA funding opportunities. The application is due April 22, 2022.
Learn more and access the application.
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Judging Opportunities
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are competitions that highlight creative teens, aged 13-18, and promote student voices through recognition, scholarship, and publication. The program is looking for talented Hoosier writers and artists to judge this year’s contest. As a judge, you can choose which categories you are comfortable judging and what age range (ages 13-18, or 7th-12th grade). The judging is entirely online and will be a time commitment of approximately four hours. To judge in the Northeast Indiana Region (January 7-11), please email katy.thompson@fwmoa.com. To judge in the Central & Southern Indiana Region (January 3-10), please email sfox@iupui.edu.
Learn more about the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
This Week in Hoosier History
1977 – A DC-3 crashed shortly after takeoff from the Evansville airport, killing all 29 aboard. The dead included Coach Bobby Watson and nearly the entire University of Evansville “Purple Aces” basketball team. Among others on board were university sports information director Gregory Knipping and sportscaster Marv Bates.
For more local news . . .
Check out our archived episodes of What’s Happenin’ and Talkin’ Sports with Nick Jenkinson here