Photos: Milan dedicates "Basketball Town USA" tower

(MILAN, Ind.) – The Town of Milan cut the ribbon on their one-of-a-kind water tower on Thursday evening.

The “Basketball Town USA” tower is part of a $5M water improvement project which also included upgrades to water mains, hydrants, valves, and water service lines. 

The project was financed by $4.5 million in low-interest loan and grant funds from the Indiana State Revolving Fund, and $700,000 in grant funds awarded through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA).  

Milan Town Council President Deb Schumate said the branding of the tower isn’t to dwell on the past, but to provide a boost to tourism. 

“The idea is that people will want to see this if they’re a basketball enthusiast, and our hope is to grow and attract more businesses as more people come to Milan,” Schumate said.

The 150,000-gallon water storage tank is expected to serve nearly 750 customers. It was built to replace the old yellow one that had been in use for 60 years.

Here are some photos from the dedication Thursday's ceremony: