Brown County is located about 19 miles east of the Indiana University Bloomington campus, a short drive along IN-46. Known for its scenic hills and forests, the county is a popular destination for outdoor recreation and tourism, anchored by Brown County State Park—the largest state park in Indiana. The area has a strong arts and crafts heritage, with Nashville serving as a hub for galleries, studios, and local artisans. While tourism is a major economic driver, the county also supports small businesses and service industries that cater to visitors and residents alike.
With a population of approximately 15,600, Brown County communities include Nashville, Helmsburg, Story, Bean Blossom, and Gnaw Bone. Brown County will continue to leverage its natural beauty and cultural assets as part of regional development initiatives, making it a distinctive partner in efforts to sustain vibrant rural communities.
Brown County to launch IU collaboration with Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative
Building on a century-long relationship rooted in the arts, public health, and environmental research, Brown County's partnership with the Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative will connect IU faculty and students with the creative, resilient community to advance local projects that reflect both resident and visitor needs.
From Bean Blossom’s bluegrass roots to the artisan shops of Nashville, Brown County reflects the spirit of community. SHC gives us the tools to strengthen that spirit and shape what comes next.
Gary Huett, County Council President
Projects
Additional projects are continuing to emerge and will be added here soon.
Brown County's past, present, and future are deeply rooted in arts and culture, from Nashville’s century-old art colony to its present-day network of galleries, artists, and performance venues. This project will help the community build on that legacy by identifying opportunities to enhance the visibility, coordination, and long-term sustainability of the local arts sector—producing a shared understanding of the current landscape and concrete recommendations for strengthening it going forward.
Community Partners Brown County Art Gallery, Brown County Quality of Life Group, Town of Nashville Arts and Entertainment District, Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau
IU Instructor Adrian Starnes, O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and IU Arts & Humanities Council
Project Course AADM-Y 500 Seminar in Rural and Grassroots Arts, fall 2026
Brown County has a significant number of youth, outdoor recreation, and church camps, as well as seasonal family activities that serve both residents and visitors. Students from The Media School and the Kelley School of Business will explore how Brown County can organize, market, and communicate area camp facilities for youth programming, weddings, family reunions, corporate retreats, and more.
Community Partners Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Happy Hollow Camp
IU Instructor Matt Guschwan, The Media School and the Kelley School of Business
Project Courses MSCH-R 349 Public Relations Writing, fall 2026; BUS-C 204 Business Writing, spring 2027
Graduate students from the School of Public Health and the Kelley School of Business accounting program will collaborate to strengthen an emerging rural paramedicine program by identifying viable funding strategies and developing financial models to support forecasting and long-term sustainability.
Community Partners IU Health Nashville
IU Instructors Priscilla Barnes, School of Public Health; Chris Cook, Kelley School of Business
Project Courses SPH-H 662 Acquiring and Managing External Funds for Health and Human Services, fall 2026; BUS-A 569 Field Consulting, fall 2026
Since 1949, the Brown County Playhouse has served as a hub of entertainment for its patrons, offering a variety of shows, musicals, movies, and more. In fact, the Playhouse was the first summer stock theater to open in Indiana after World War II.
Building on the decades-long partnership between IU and the Playhouse, IU theatre students will engage the senior population in Brown County through a senior-friendly community theater program. Seniors will write plays, direct, and act. The program will focus on including a wide array of abilities.
Community Partner Brown County Playhouse
IU Instructor Jennifer Goodlander, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Theatre and Drama
Project Course THTR-T 340 Directing 1: Fundamentals of Directing, spring 2027
With an estimated two million annual visitors compared to a population of just 15,650 residents, Brown County has one of the highest visitor-to-resident ratios in Indiana—about 128 visitors for every resident each year. This extraordinary demand sustains hundreds of small businesses, galleries, inns, restaurants, recreational facilities, and public venues while presenting unique challenges for community infrastructure and services. The community seeks to better understand the demands for emergency services locally and identify opportunities to strengthen the infrastructure.
Community Partner Brown County Sheriff's Department
IU Instructor David Wild, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering
Project Course DSCI-D 592 Data Science in Practice, fall 2026
Students will work with the Brown County Health Department to gain a better understanding of how people in the county are accessing information related to tick prevention and education. The students will conduct an assessment to inform where to place tick awareness and education materials throughout the community. Students will conduct this assessment through the use of digital resources and field visits to the community. The findings from this assessment will help to inform best practices around how and where to share tick prevention and education resources. Project deliverables include an assessment and a plan.
Community Partner Brown County Health Department
IU Instructor Julia Sherry, School of Public Health
Project Course SPH-H 319 Global Health Promotion: Public Health Solutions for Global Challenges, fall 2026 and spring 2027
Graduate capstone students in the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs will partner with the Brown County Food Alliance to identify opportunities to strengthen the food security infrastructure in the county.
Community Partners Brown County Food Alliance
IU Instructor James Farmer, O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Project Course SPEA-V 600 Capstone in Public & Environmental Affairs, spring 2027
To support local efforts to expand housing options, Brown County is partnering with a student research team from the Kelley School of Business Center for Real Estate Studies. The team will analyze regional land data to evaluate the feasibility of various sites, including county-owned tracts, for potential future housing development and infrastructure access. By exploring innovative, scalable growth models like Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), the study will provide local leaders with data-driven insights to help guide the community’s future housing landscape.
Community Partner Brown County Indiana Habitat for Humanity
IU Instructor Dave Harstad, Kelley School of Business
IU Partner IU Center for Real Estate Studies, fall 2026
Brown County will work with a Comprehensive Design Rural Scholar to explore the feasibility of developing a family-oriented splash pad and water-play facility at the local YMCA. The splash pad will serve as a tourism asset and quality-of-life investment for both visitors and residents. The Comprehensive Design Rural Scholar will provide a site analysis and early concept project renderings for use at future public meetings, in fundraising campaigns, and in conversations with stakeholders and vendors.
Community Partners Brown County Community YMCA, Brown County Quality of Life Group, Brown County Parks and Recreation
IU Staff Nicole Vasconi, Center for Rural Engagement
IU Partner Rural Scholars Program, fall 2026 and spring 2027
Brown County Bikes will work with a Comprehensive Design Rural Scholar to explore the feasibility of developing a gravity mountain bike park. The Comprehensive Design Rural Scholar will provide a site analysis and early concept project renderings for use at future public meetings, in fundraising campaigns, and in conversations with stakeholders and vendors.
Community Partners Brown County Bikes, Brown County Parks and Recreation
IU Staff Nicole Vasconi, Center for Rural Engagement
IU Partner Rural Scholars Program, fall 2026 and spring 2027
Graduate students from the School of Public Health will partner with the Town of Nashville, Indiana, to explore ways to improve sidewalk accessibility and pedestrian mobility throughout the community. As part of the project, students will conduct community engagement sessions to gather input about sidewalk conditions, accessibility challenges, and priorities for improvement. The feedback collected will help inform recommendations to support a safer, more accessible, and walkable Nashville for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities.
Community Partner Town of Nashville
IU Instructor Becca Lassell, School of Public Health
Project Course SPH-R 550 Designing Accessible Spaces for Healthy Places, spring 2027
Undergraduate and graduate students from the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design will visit the T.C. Steele State Historic Site in Brown County to explore the life, work, and enduring legacy of one of Indiana's most celebrated artists. Through a guided tour of Steele's home and studio, students will gain insight into his deep connection to the Indiana landscape and his role in shaping American Impressionism. Honoring Steele's commitment to painting directly from nature, students will engage in plein air painting on-site, experiencing firsthand the artistic practice that inspired many of his most iconic works and fostering a deeper appreciation for the relationship between art, place, and observation.
Community Partner T.C. Steele State Historic Site
IU Instructors Amanda Smith and Caleb Weintraub, Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design
Project Courses SOAD-S 230 Painting 1, fall 2026; SOAD-S 330 Painting 2, fall 2026; SOAD-S 432 BFA Painting, fall 2026
The Brown County Studio Tour (BCST) began as a grassroots effort by local artists to showcase the spaces where they work and create. Today, BCST remains a powerful expression of the organization's legacy, connecting artists, visitors, and the countryside in a way that is both timeless and personal. As BCST approaches its 30th birthday, the organization would like to partner with IU to strengthen its operations and expand its reach. Aspirations include engaging people of all ages, from students to seniors; supporting area arts, education, culture, and the local economy; and continuing to provide immersive experiences.
Community Partner Brown County Studio Tour
IU Instructor Sean Nicholson-Crotty, O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
The STEAMery, a burgeoning nonprofit in Brown County, exists to empower students to explore innovation, STEM, and lifelong learning. The STEAMery will partner with students in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering to capture youth and adult perspectives on AI usage and create an AI playbook geared toward parents and children.
Community Partner The STEAMery
IU Instructor Alexis Peirce Caudell, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering
Project Course INFO-I 400/590 Topics, spring 2027
Faculty: Connect your course with Sustaining Hoosier Communities and support projects in Brown County
Engage your students in meaningful learning experiences by connecting your course with Sustaining Hoosier Communities (SHC). Through SHC, you can incorporate community-engaged projects into your curriculum while contributing to priorities that matter to Brown County residents. Join faculty across disciplines in advancing student learning alongside the needs and strengths of rural Indiana.
