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OrthoWorx, in collaboration with many city and county partners, announced opened applications for the Community Experience Program (CXP) on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
CXP is the latest project under the Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative (OIRI), a $30 million grant from the Indiana State Legislature aimed at improving quality of life in Kosciusko County while attracting and retaining orthopedic industry professionals, according to a news release from OrthoWorx.
The program will help fund projects that bring entertainment, dining and arts and culture experiences to downtown buildings, especially those that are underutilized. It will provide up to 20% of a project’s overall startup cost and is open to Kosciusko County communities and organizations, as well as outside investors.
“This program is a unique opportunity to improve the vibrancy of our downtowns while utilizing space that might otherwise remain vacant,” said Andrea Sullivan, executive director of OIRI. “Downtown areas offer first impressions, glimpses into the personality of a community. The CXP program will not only help drive economic growth but transform historic buildings and communal areas into vibrant spaces we can enjoy and be proud to call our own.”
Applications can be submitted through the All In Kosciusko website at allinkosciusko.com. Applicants must provide a letter of intent that includes a project summary, projected costs and a description of how the project fits within CXP parameters.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed by a grant committee of community leaders. Qualified applicants will advance to a second phase that includes in-person presentations. The portal closes March 31, 2026.
“The CXP is an exciting portion of the OIRI grant as it could potentially create new amenities fairly quickly,” said Peggy Friday, president of KEDCO. “The CXP committee looks forward to seeing what kind of entrepreneurial ideas may be out there.”
For more information on OIRI projects and developments, visit allinkosciusko.com
OrthoWorx is an initiative formed in 2009 in the Orthopedic Capital of the World through initial funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. to fill a critical void in the industry, serving as a connector for industry, education and the community, leveraging resources to drive positive change, the release states. OrthoWorx was specifically designed to make the region the best place for orthopedic industry talent to grow and thrive.
