Dubois County Completes HELP Projects: Head Start Support, 39 Homes Repaired

Dubois County and the City of Jasper have finished two major projects developed through the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP), channeling federal ARPA dollars into early childhood services and homeowner repairs that directly affect local families and neighborhoods. The initiatives wrapped in December 2025 and county leaders confirmed project completion on January 26, 2026.

The HELP process began when Dubois County and the City of Jasper partnered to apply in late 2021 for assistance from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). HELP was designed to produce a community-driven strategic plan for ARPA fund use, incorporating resident input to prioritize investments. Two projects from that plan moved to implementation: support for TRI-CAP Head Start and an owner-occupied rehabilitation program.

TRI-CAP Head Start received $300,000, fully expended on classroom, program and office supplies, communication items, and salaries to support early childhood services for low-income families ages 3-5. That investment aimed to stabilize and expand services for families who rely on Head Start for preschool education and basic supports, reducing barriers to work and school readiness in the Jasper area and across Dubois County.

The Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation (OOR) program expended $537,194.15 to repair and upgrade 39 homes across the county. Work completed included ADA accessibility modifications to 3 homes, electrical work at 9 properties, HVAC upgrades or replacements at 22 homes, radon mitigation in 3 houses, new roofs on 29 properties, and water heater replacements or improvements at 13 homes. Local contractors performed the construction and local inspectors conducted inspections, reflecting an emphasis on using county-based labor and oversight.

County leaders publicly thanked the Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission for administering the HELP projects and acknowledged local partners who supported implementation. OCRA provided the HELP framework and funding linkage, while the strategic plan informed how ARPA dollars were targeted to address childcare capacity and housing quality simultaneously.

For residents, the completed projects mean increased access to early education resources for preschool-age children, fewer households facing urgent housing hazards, and tangible investments in neighborhood stability. The use of resident input during HELP planning and the employment of local contractors underscore a governance approach that tied federal relief funds to local priorities and local work. Moving forward, the completed projects set a precedent for how Dubois County may deploy public dollars to address basic needs and preserve housing, with the expectation that county officials will continue monitoring outcomes and community needs.