Southern Indiana Business Report
INDIANAPOLIS — The Community Action Leading Loogootee organization was one of 11 groups announced statewide April 7 as recognized Indiana Main Street programs. Making the announcement was Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, on behalf of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA).
“The Indiana Main Street program continues to be a strong partner of downtowns throughout our great state,” Crouch said. “It sparks economic growth by expanding businesses, creating jobs and attracting private and public investments. Congratulations to each community and local Main Street program for attaining these designations, and for their commitment to revitalizing and enhancing their community’s unique heritage and features.”
The IMS program accepts applications for three levels:
- Nationally Accredited Main Street: A NAMS community meets all of the Accreditation Standards set forth by Main Street America.
- Indiana Accredited Main Street: An IAMS community meets 8/10 Accreditation Standards set forth by Main Street America, but may lack a paid professional program manager.
- OCRA’s Downtown Affiliate Network: An ODAN community can include organizations that prefer to specialize in event-related activities only or lack the physical or historical capacity required to qualify as a Main Street organization.
Community Action Leading Loogootee was announced as one of OCRA’s Downtown Affiliate Networks.
New Nationally Accredited Main Streets are the Heart of Lebanon and Main Street Richmond. New Indiana Accredited Main Streets are North Vernon Main Street and Main Street Greencastle. Other new OCRA’s Downtown Affiliate Networks are Downtown Danville Partnership, Greendale Main Street, Main Street LaGrange, Downtown Princeton, Delphi Main Street and Scottsburg Main Street.
“Congratulations to these 11 communities on earning an Indiana Main Street designation,” said OCRA Executive Director Denny Spinner. “Since 1985, the Indiana Main Street program has been instrumental in providing resources to cities and towns to advance their downtown economic development. I look forward to seeing what these communities accomplish in the future.”
A local program’s performance is evaluated by Indiana Main Street, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify organizations that meet rigorous performance standards.
The 11 programs will be provided a formal certificate, access to Main Street America and Indiana Main Street trainings, networking opportunities with other regional and statewide programs, and a resource toolbox unique to their needs.
To learn more about the Indiana Main Street program, visit in.gov/ocra/mainstreet.
About the state and national organizations
Indiana Main Street encourages community-driven revitalization of downtown areas in Indiana cities and towns. The people who make up the Main Street network are passionate advocates, dedicated volunteers, influential stakeholders and community organizers. IMS is housed within the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, an agency of Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch’s family of business. Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for 40 years. Today, it is a network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have leveraged more than $85.43 billion in new public and private investment, generated 672,333 net new jobs and 150,079 net new businesses, and rehabilitated more than 295,348 buildings. Main Street America is a program of the nonprofit National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.