Community Spirit Award

Celebrating community involvement

The Community Spirit Award honors exceptional individuals from our member financial institutions who have made a notable impact in their communities through a history of work to expand affordable housing; dedication to unique and innovative economic development solutions; and emerging leaders with a demonstrated commitment to affordable housing and community economic development. Whether through a history of forging strategic partnerships or implementing unique strategies to create local affordable housing and economic development opportunities, or as an emerging leader in the field, Community Spirit Award recipients are those who go above and beyond to promote strong, sustainable and healthy communities across our district.

FHLBank Indianapolis recognizes these efforts each year by bestowing the Community Spirit Award to a noteworthy individual in both Indiana and Michigan, alongside a $5,000 donation in the recipients' honor to the charity or nonprofit organization of their choice.

Nominating criteria

The Community Spirit Award is dedicated to individuals who exemplify excellence in any of the following areas. Eligible nominees must work at one of our member financial institutions. A recipient will be selected from both Indiana and Michigan.

Affordable Housing: profound impact on increasing or strengthening affordable housing opportunities or partnerships in their community, to include single- or multi-family projects, unique housing strategies or partnerships and involvement in FHLBank Indianapolis Affordable Housing Program or Homeownership Initiatives.

Economic Development: exceptional effort to promote economic development in their community by supporting unique partnerships or projects for small businesses, business growth or involvement with Community Impact Advance or Elevate programs.

Emerging Leader: an emerging leader with a demonstrated commitment to building strong communities through housing and economic development. These individuals are known for taking initiative, delivering remarkable results and going above and beyond.

Jason Blain

Senior Commercial Banker | Independent Bank | Grand Rapids, Mich.

Michigan's affordable housing champion

Jason Blain has spearheaded investments in eight AHP projects across Michigan, facilitating just under $4.5 million dollars in grants for a range of projects, representing a total of more than 500 additional housing units in Michigan.

Blain is known for his creative thinking around project financing and his willingness to share his insight and guidance with others. This commitment multiplies Blain's impact beyond his own work with Independent Bank to tangibly impact the landscape of housing development across the state.

In addition to his successes with AHP, Blain also facilitated the first CDFI Rate Buydown transaction with a Michigan-based CDFI. He has also proactively worked with a number of other member banks and credit unions, sharing knowledge and best practices to support additional lending to CDFIs and expand affordable housing opportunities throughout Michigan.

The $5,000 donation in Blain's name is being split between Homes Giving Hope, which provides independent living opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and Dream Team Northern Michigan, a co-ed youth and young adult baseball league for individuals with disabilities. Each organization will receive $2,500.

Read our full news release here.

Bonnie Arnold

Director of Community Funding Development | Home Bank | Martinsville, Ind.

Indiana's community development leader

As Director of Community Funding Development, Bonnie Arnold serves as Home Bank’s primary lead and point of contact for all FHLBank Indianapolis Community Investment programs as well as their community liaison.

As a direct result of Arnold's leadership, 24 Indiana households have received down payment and home repair assistance through the Launch – Down Payment Assistance and Revive – Home Repair Grant programs.

Her work extends beyond homeownership support, though. In addition to those successes, Arnold has also spearheaded investments totaling more than $150,000 in grant funds for eight small businesses in Indiana.

In addition to her own work, Arnold has also tirelessly dedicated her time supporting community partners by serving on educational panels and workshops, including Prosperity Indiana’s annual summit, discussing how nonprofits should engage with financial institutions to expand their community impact, and FHLBank Indianapolis' own Community Catalyst training series, sharing knowledge and helping build capacity for staff at fellow member financial institutions who themselves are working to bring more grant dollars into their institutions.

The $5,000 charitable donation in Arnold's name will support the Morgan County Better Communities Coalition, improving quality of life for residents of Morgan County through partnerships that support long-term affordable housing, emergency housing, transportation, mental health initiatives and more.

Read our full news release here.