Lilly Endowment awards Trine University $17.2 million grant

Trine University has received a grant of $17.2 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its College and Community Collaboration (CCC) initiative.

The grant will support efforts to help prepare students and adult learners for current and emerging in-demand job opportunities throughout the region. It will partially fund the development of a design and technical training center, an esports facility that serves both the campus and surrounding area, and a new community park, in addition to many other collaborative efforts to enhance the community.

Workforce development and collaboration

Key components will focus on workforce and skills development and training, collaboration and innovation, community engagement and outreach, infrastructure development and improvement of aesthetics and connectivity, and collaborative university and community spaces and programming. Projects include:

• The state-of-the-art John and Mary Pellegrino Design and Technical Training Center will include cutting-edge resources to prepare students and community members for careers in engineering, manufacturing and technology.
• The Mark and Sarah Music/Ruoff Mortgage Esports Arena, opening in August, has transformed an auditorium classroom into a 5,600-square-foot state-of-the-art esports arena. This community-centric space offers inclusivity and engagement.
• The Sheets Community Park will provide for inclusive recreational spaces that encourage physical activity and social engagement for individuals of all ages and abilities.

The grant also will support collaborative programming as well as the development of new green spaces, trails and recreation spaces that will better connect the university and the greater Angola community.

“Over my 25 years, Trine University and higher education institutions across Indiana have been and continue to be blessed by the great work of Lilly Endowment. We appreciate everything they do to make this state a better place to learn, work and live,” said Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., Trine University president. “Through the support provided by this initiative, we look forward to a future filled with shared success and community advancement for Trine University, Steuben County and northeast Indiana.”

In preparing a proposal for the grant, Trine collaborated with several organizations to bring together expertise, resources and diverse perspectives. These partners include the City of Angola and Angola Main Street, Steuben County Government, the Steuben County Community Foundation, Steuben County Economic Development Corporation, Steuben County Tourism Bureau, Cameron Memorial Community Hospital, Easterseals ARC of Northeast Indiana and RISE, Steuben County Trails, YMCA of Steuben County, Steuben Art Scene, MSD of Steuben County and Fremont Community Schools.

“We are profoundly grateful to Lilly Endowment for this generous grant, which will empower Trine University to significantly expand its community impact,” said Gretchen M. Miller, senior vice president and chief operating officer at Trine University. “This funding enables us to take substantial strides in our collaborative efforts to enhance the vibrancy of our campus and the opportunities available to our community members. With our exceptional area partners, we are excited to continue this journey of positive growth, ensuring an enriched quality of life for everyone involved.”

Grants offered statewide

Trine University is one of 13 Indiana higher education institutions receiving grants through the latest round of implementation grants through CCC, a competitive Lilly Endowment initiative.

“While varied in scope and reach, the proposed initiatives and projects reflect a commitment by all stakeholders, inclusive of faculty, staff and students from these institutions, business leaders, government officials and community leaders, to creating vibrant communities for all residents to enjoy and in which to thrive,” said Jennett M. Hill, president of Lilly Endowment. “The Endowment looks forward to seeing all the projects in the CCC initiative evolve. We are enthusiastic about the prospects for both the institutions and communities and are eager to see these institutions and their community stakeholders collaborate to breathe life into their promising projects.”

Lilly Endowment launched the CCC initiative in early 2023. The initiative is designed to encourage Indiana’s colleges and universities to work closely with community stakeholders to envision and jointly undertake significant community development efforts to create more vibrant places in which to live, learn, work and play.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private foundation created in 1937 by J. K. Lilly and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with its founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. The Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, and maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.