HAND Incorporated is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Noblesville that works to provide affordable housing opportunities for local residents.  HAND Executive Director Andrea Davis presided over a ground-breaking ceremony for HAND’s first Fishers project Thursday, Cumberland Cottages, just south and west of the roundabout at 141st Street and Cumberland Road.

Davis opened the gathering by explaining how long it had taken to bring this plan together, including COVID complications and a rezoning that passed the Fishers City Council by one vote.

Tom Kilian of the Hamilton County Community Foundation told those assembled that his foundation, which Davis credits for providing the final piece of funding allowing Cumberland Cottages to happen, works to provide people in this county with equitable opportunities for reaching their full potential. He described Cumberland Cottages as a perfect example of reaching that mission.

“This project is going to allow us to keep our work force in Hamilton County,” said Kilian.

Cumberland Cottages will provide 11 housing units on just under 2 acres of land, with 5  at market rate and 6 will have rents based on the tenant’s income.  Plans call for building four two-bedroom units and seven three-bedroom units in what’s known as a cottage court layout, clustered around shared green space.

Construction is expected to take about 10 months.

Several local elected officials were on hand for the ground-breaking, including County Commissioner Steve Dillinger, State Representative Victoria Wilburn, along with Fishers City Councilors Crystal Neumann and Jocelyn Vare.

Tom Kilian of the Hamilton County Community Foundation, speaking at the ground-breaking