Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
PAOLI – An effort to bring a revitalization program to downtown Paoli is gaining momentum.
Following three meetings to gauge interest in the Main Street Indiana program, community leaders are planning a dinner and panel discussion at 6 p.m. June 22 at El Compadre in Paoli for residents to learn more. The event is free and open to anyone interested in learning about downtown revitalization.
Chelsey Thomas, project manager for Orange County Economic Development Partnership, said attendees will learn how Jasper enlivened its downtown. The panel discussion will feature representatives from Heart of Jasper, the Main Street organization in Jasper, and others involved with Jasper downtown.
Thomas, who has been involved in the previous meetings to explore joining the Main Street program, said there has been a good response from residents.
She said a common sentiment from participants is a desire to see the Paoli square “the way it used to be.”
As a lifelong resident of Paoli, she can relate.
“I remember when you could do your Christmas shopping on the Paoli square,” she said.
She recently counted 14 empty buildings on the square, some, but not all, are available for rent and some are in need of restoration work.
“I think our square could really benefit from becoming a Main Street organization,” Thomas said. “With our historic courthouse, our square has the potential to be a wonderful spot.”
Indiana Main Street encourages community-driven revitalization of downtown areas by focusing on four pillars: Organization, design, promotion and economic vitality.
Indiana Main Street is managed by the state’s Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The first step of the process is to join the Downtown Affiliate Network. There are 76 communities in the Indiana Downtown Affiliate Network.
“It takes quite a few people,” Thomas said of the process. “We’d like to get our downtown businesses involved and community leaders.”
Thomas, who also is treasurer of the Paoli Chamber of Commerce, hopes hearing what Jasper has accomplished will spark interest in revitalizing downtown Paoli.
“Our main goal is to bring people back to the community,” she said. “We get busy and forget we’re a community.”