Progress grants award more than $200,000 to local nonprofits

Blue River Community Foundation, the City of Shelbyville, and Shelby County Government are pleased to announce that $200,536 has been awarded to eight local nonprofit organizations through the 2026 City and County Progress Grants.

This partnership invests racino income received annually by the City and County into projects that address local needs and improve quality of life throughout Shelby County.

The awards will help young children arrive at kindergarten ready to learn, put more books into the hands of young readers, provide safe housing for families escaping domestic violence, and strengthen recovery and disability services. They also will expand recreation and wellness opportunities, improve spaces where residents gather, enhance access to the performing arts, and preserve a valued downtown property, creating benefits for local residents now and for years to come.

The nonprofits receiving grants are:

• Girls Inc. of Shelbyville/Shelby County – Girls Inc. will use grant funding to strengthen literacy opportunities for girls in kindergarten through fifth grade. Girls in second and third grade will each receive a book to use in a weekly book club where they will read together, discuss stories, make personal connections, ask questions, and practice critical thinking and communication skills. Funding also will help provide books for the K-1 literacy curriculum launching in January and subscriptions to age appropriate nonfiction resources for fourth- and fifth-graders.
• Harnessing Hope Therapeutic Riding and Driving – Harnessing Hope will partner with The Bridge to provide eight equine-assisted learning sessions for up to 12 participants in its adult and family connection groups. The sessions will use interaction with horses to support individuals and families navigating addiction recovery, with an emphasis on connection, co-regulation, and interpersonal skills.
• Healthy Shelby County – Healthy Shelby County will create a dedicated outdoor playground at The Mary Jane Reed & Robert W. Reed CommunityLink for children and families accessing services through the nonprofit center. The safe, enclosed play space will give children an opportunity to play, connect, and regulate emotions while caregivers participate in services. Healthy Shelby County also plans to use the space for family fitness programs, outdoor wellness education, seasonal activities, and other programming that encourages healthy habits and family engagement.
• Mainstreet Shelbyville – Mainstreet Shelbyville will address significant structural repairs to the north wall of its historic downtown building. After a section of brick fell during a snowstorm, two masonry inspections determined that the wall needs to be fully replaced. Grant support will help Mainstreet complete the capital repair without redirecting funding from its façade grant program, allowing the organization to continue investing in preservation and revitalization projects throughout downtown Shelbyville.
• Shares Inc. – Shares Inc. will create a Recreation Room at its Shelbyville location as it expands person-centered Day Services for adults with disabilities. The space will include activities such as cards, puzzles, board and video games, karaoke, fitness equipment, and lawn games. Participants will be able to choose from individuals and group activities designed to encourage recreation while strengthening physical, cognitive, social and emotional skills, independence, and overall well-being.
• Shelby County Players – Shelby County Players will add audio and video equipment to the lobby event space at the Wortman Family Civic Theatre as part of Phase 2 of the facility’s development. The project includes a projector and screen, microphones, speakers, and teleconferencing  equipment that will expand the lobby’s use for meetings, presentations, networking events, workshops, and other community gatherings. The improvements will help the theatre serve not only as a performing arts venue, but also as a flexible gathering and event space for nonprofits, businesses and community organizations.
• Shelby County YMCA – The Decatur Shelby County YMCA will provide scholarship assistance to working families whose children attend the Julia & Nicholas Runnebohm Early Learning Center (ELC). The ELC serves children from six weeks through age five with developmentally appropriate learning experiences focused on literacy, communication, problem solving, social-emotional development, and kindergarten readiness. Scholarship support helps make this high-quality childcare accessible to families who may otherwise be unable to afford care, while also allowing parents to remain in the workforce.
• Shelter from the Storm – Shelter from the Storm will continue providing safe, local housing for women and their dependent children escaping domestic violence. Families entering the program received a furnished room, food, clothing, and household necessities before working with staff to identify longer term goals such as accessing benefits, counseling, employment or job training, and developing a safe path toward independence.

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