March 4, 2026
A long-vacant building in downtown Bedford is being brough back to life thanks to a local entrepreneur and financial support from the Radius Indiana Intermediary Relending Program (IRP).
"Supporting growing local businesses like Legacy Appraisal Company is exactly what the Intermediary Relending Program is designed for," said Jeff Quyle, President and CEO of Radius Indiana. "By providing affordable financing for expansion and renovation, we're helping entrepreneurs invest in their teams, strengthen downtowns, and drive economic growth across the region."
Legacy Appraisal Company recently acquired a vacant two-story building at 1003 15th St., near downtown Bedford. The company, owned by Rebecca Decker, provides residential, commercial, and land property appraisals for wide range of clients and has experienced steady growth in recent years.
"With our growth in the recent past, we knew we needed to seek a larger space, and controlling our own building in the heart of the City was appealing," said Decker. "We like to be in the downtown business district, helping to contribute to the vitality of the downtown."
To help finance renovations of the newly acquired property, Decker utilized the IRP loan program administered by Radius Indiana. The IRP is a rural development initiative operated by the United States Department of Agriculture. Through approved economic development organizations like Radius, the program offers loans at 3.5% interest while creating a dedicated revolving loan fund to support business growth across Radius's eight-county region. Radius currently has more than $1 million in outstanding loans and commitments through the program.
Facade replacement is currently underway, along with significant interior improvements to the building, which were reviewed by the local historic preservation board to ensure the planned improvements met downtown standards. Once complete, the project will provide an enhanced workspace for Legacy Appraisal's growing team while contributing to the ongoing revitalization of downtown Bedford.
"I know when we're done, we'll have an improved working environment for our team, and we'll have made downtown look a little better and feel a little more alive," Decker said. "That's a win/win scenario."
For more information about the INtermediary Relending Program or business financing opportunities, contact Radius Indiana at 812-277-9788 or j.quyle@radiusindiana.com.
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ABOUT RADIUS INDIANA: Radius Indiana is a regional economic development partnership representing eight counties in Southern Indiana: Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington. Formed in 2009, Radius Indiana also serves as a point of contact in Indiana for Naval Weapons Station Crane and leads regional collaboration by leveraging the diverse assets of Southwest Central Indiana to drive attraction, retention and expansion of business, thereby increasing employment and investment opportunities and quality of life within the region.