It appears the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is about to shower Gary with cash. HUD is putting the wheels into motion for “The Gary Project,” which is intended to make the northern Indiana city a model of urban revitalization.

Gary is expected to be the Obama administration’s “national model” for urban revitalization, according to U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has established a “Gary Project” that will seek to address issues of urban decay and foster economic development in the city, including demolition of vacant properties, according to Bayh, D-Ind.

“(HUD officials) would like to make this a national example of what can be done when bringing all parties together,” Bayh said. “They feel if they can get Gary on the right track, they can use this plan to do it elsewhere in the country.”

No details of the Project are available yet, but a panel of experts charged with leading the effort is supposed to be assembled by mid-September.

LaPorte County officials are trying to figure out how to proceed now that the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) has requested the removal of county assessor Carol McDaniel. The Herald-Argus says bouncing McDaniel is the right move.

Porter County has increased funding for its on-demand bus service.

The special referendum on the regional transit authority appears to be circling the drain.

South Bend is sorting through its 2010 budget and making cuts.