A major financial boost is coming to Wayne County to help transform local communities.  The Wayne County Foundation has been awarded a 1 point 5 million dollar grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of their "GIFT Nine" initiative.

Officials say the funding will be channeled through the "Forward Wayne County" organization to drive positive change over the next three years. The specific plan includes investing in recreational amenities, improving the appearance of downtown areas, and strengthening nonprofit Main Street organizations.

Elsewhere in the Whitewater Valley, other counties are also seeing big investments:

The Fayette Community Foundation received $750,000, which they plan to use to assess the needs of local first responders.

Henry County also secured $750,000, which will be used as a matching grant to boost their "Choose Henry Flex Fund."

And Randolph County is receiving over $600,000 to enhance their local grant cycles. An information session on those funds is set for January 13th.