BROWNSTOWN — The Indiana State Department of Health recently awarded $20,000 to produce a walking and biking improvement plan for the county seat.

Jane Ellery, who owns E2 Praxis, shared the good news with the town council during its meeting Monday night at town hall.

Ellery and her husband, Pete, own and operate Ewing-based E2 Praxis, which is a consulting group specializing in placemaking design initiatives, health impact assessments and environmental impact evaluations.

In January, the couple received the council’s approval to apply for the grant. With eventual council approval, E2 Praxis will conduct the study over the coming months.

During the January meeting, Jane Ellery said E2 Praxis was exploring the idea of biking and walking trails around the middle school and high school in addition to elongating the current walking path from town to the fairgrounds out to the campgrounds at the state forestry.

On Monday, she said the plan also might include Brownstown serving as a hub for people wanting to ride their bicycles on short trips to nearby places in the county.

Jane Ellery said the state has the basic information about the plan and will work up an agreement with the town. That step will include a Zoom meeting with Ellerly, the state health department’s division of nutrition and physical activity and any of the town council members who would like to participate.

“They would share with us all the expectations,” Ellery said.

She said she attended Monday’s meeting to ask that the council agree to accept the grant so the next step to move the forward can be taken.

After that process is complete, the town will need to put together and approve the contract with E2 Praxis.

Over the coming months, E2 Praxis plans to engage people in the community, Ellery said.

“… and make sure their voices are included in this plan,” she said.

Jane Ellery said they also plan to work with a couple of classes at the school to get the school voice this spring.

“We’ll also host listening and work sessions in the community,” she said.

Those sessions may be held at E2 Praxis office, the parks or a few other places. There also will be booths at the Watermelon Festival and the Jackson County Fair to explain the walking and biking improvement plan.

Jane Ellery said the state is really looking for that type of engagement process.

“Do you have the people from the community, their voices involved?” she said.

The report has to be finished by the end of September. At that point, the search for funds to implement the plan would start, Ellery said.