Indiana University and Orange County collaborate to solve local challenges

Orange County is a 20,000 person rural southern Indiana county comprising four incorporated towns and a number of unincorporated communities. Residents are intent on celebrating the county’s industrial roots, natural beauty, and historic architecture while embracing and preparing for the future. Local progress is driven in large part by “grassroots cooperative leadership” (Report, Pg. 4), while legal and medical non-profits provide essential communal services. This community-oriented mentality lends itself to innovative partnerships between various actors working towards common goals.

A developing rural community seeks to sustain momentum

In late 2018, Orange County was in a hopeful state of change and growth. Local businesses, organizations, and nonprofits faced a diverse range of challenges related to economic, social, and cultural development. At the same time, stakeholders sought ways to generate revenue and attract visitors “through a tourism economy, relying on [the county’s] historical, agricultural and recreational roots” (IU Summary). Across the county were multiple planned or ongoing initiatives in fields like health and wellness, parks and recreation, community arts and leadership, and infrastructure. In order to move forward, these projects required the help of innovative problem solvers with fresh perspectives.   

University program opens avenues for collaborative innovation 

Enter, the Sustaining Hoosier Communities (SHC) program at Indiana University. SHC is a community outreach initiative within the Center for Rural Engagement and a member of the Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities (EPIC) network. The program partners faculty and students with local leaders and organizations in order to explore, understand and resolve community-identified challenges and opportunities. In the 2018-2019 academic year, students across departments were asked to develop innovative solutions to Orange County’s complex problems. This EPIC-N partnership involved over 450 participants in 26 courses across 11 departments. 

Students and faculty deliver remarkable results for the region

Throughout the duration of the 18 month engagement, participating courses and their respective faculty and students:

Chronic Illness and Maternal Health 

• Conducted routine care home visits for patients suffering from chronic illness and developed outreach strategies to raise awareness about chronic illness management and prevention 
• Analyzed maternal health risk data in order to improve a local health clinic’s obstetrics care

Health and Wellness Services

• Updated a local health clinic’s information technology (IT) systems and trained staff on how to use it
• Reviewed a local health clinic’s human resources (HR) practices in order to ensure compliance with applicable local and federal laws

Renewable Energy

• Developed a business model and budget for an affordable solar power cooperative accessible to residents and local businesses

Local Food

• Conducted a series of surveys and interviews in order to assess community perceptions of agritourism and understand regional supply/demand 

Recycling

• Devised business and programming strategies to make a local recycling co-op more efficient and financially secure and improve its educational services
• Created a brand identity for a local recycling co-op 

Leadership

• Collected and preserved the untold true stories of Orange County residents in a series of feature articles 
• Analyzed the history of rural/agricultural development in Orange County and compiled a timeline of key events

Business Support

• Created a public relations strategy to expand a local food co-op’s customer and membership base

Capacity Building

• Created a visual brand identity for a community non-profit 

Tourism

• Wrote a public relations campaign to promote the 2024 solar eclipse viewing event
• Designed, built, and deployed light sensors to assist a national forest in its Dark Sky application 

Public Infrastructure

• Designed an accessible playground structure and accompanying disability awareness campaign
• Assessed public perceptions of a planned pedestrian infrastructure project

Arts

• Designed an artist residency space and devised a business plan for a local arts organization 
• Used information technology to build an online network for arts organizations in the region

Recreation

• Created educational programming for a local community garden
• Used geographical data analysis in order to identify potential sites for a fairgrounds relocation 

Housing

• Developed affordable, sustainable plans and budgets for workforce housing and aging-in-place housing
• Conducted regional surveys and interviews to increase Habitat for Humanity’s volunteer and applicant rates

This partnership would not have been possible without the leadership of Sustaining Hoosier Communities director Jane Rogan at the Center for Rural Engagement. Organizational partners on the community side included the Orange County Economic Development Partnership, HandUp OC, the Lost River Market and Deli, Southern Indiana Community Health Care, Orange County Habitat for Humanity, the Black Vulture Project, and the Orange County Recycling Co-Op. 

Building trust, inspiring young people

Students participating in this partnership were challenged to work with their fellow community members to solve pressing problems. Faculty designed dynamic coursework around these real-world scenarios, while aspiring designers, medical workers, writers, researchers, engineers, and marketers gained valuable experience in their chosen fields. The year-long partnership fostered new connections between students, faculty, and community members, and strengthened the relationship between Orange County and Indiana University.