Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
JASPER – Heart of Jasper achieved a significant distinction Wednesday. The Indiana Main Street organization earned the designation of Nationally Accredited Main Street.
Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced that Heart of Jasper along with Indiana Main Streets Corydon Main Street and Main Street Greensburg are now Nationally Accredited Main Streets.
To earn Nationally Accredited Main Street status, communities must meet all six accreditation standards set forth by Main Street America and have advanced from the Indiana Accredited Main Street level.
“We’re very excited to earn the accreditation,” said Kate Schwenk, Heart of Jasper director.
Heart of Jasper was established in May 2020 as part of the city’s comprehensive plan. Schwenk was hired later that year. She credits the city of Jasper and Heart of Jasper’s board with making sure Heart of Jasper was well positioned to follow the Main Street model.
The organization is composed of a 13-member working board, that Schwenk said is very involved, six advisers and four subcommittees made up of about 30 volunteers.
With a focus on arts, entertainment and dining, Heart of Jasper works to enhance those elements in the Jasper downtown with a variety of activities.
Regular downtown events include:
- Movies on Main, occurring monthly
- Live music in the summer
- Shop and Sip, a monthly event when stores stay open later
- Love Your Community cleanup days twice a year to plant flowers, pull weeds and prepare the downtown for Christmas.
Facade grant program
With funding from the city, Heart of Jasper has a facade grant program that, since 2021, has helped building owners complete 23 facade projects in the downtown. The program also assists with new signage and this year added a home improvement assistance program for homes in close proximity to downtown.
A business incentive program offers up to $20,000 to assist businesses that move to the downtown. Those businesses must be centered around arts, entertainment or dining.
Schwenk said that program has been very successful at bringing businesses downtown.
Having a strong board and working closely with the city of Jasper have been essential to Heart of Jasper achieving national accreditation in just four years.
“The board set things up to follow the Main Street model and created a transformational strategy for downtown,” she said. “It was always a goal to be nationally accredited. As an Indiana Main Street affiliate, we work closely with the Main Street staff at OCRA and they’ve been very helpful.”
“Congratulations to these outstanding communities and their contribution to the economy and success of Indiana,” Beckwith said in a press release. “However, this isn’t just about the money – it’s about the people who work hard every single day to meet these high standards. They truly represent the servitude and the spirit of all Hoosiers.”
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 Main Street organizations are provided a formal certificate recognizing them as the highest achieving Main Street communities in Indiana. Additionally, they will receive access to Main Street America and Indiana Main Street trainings, networking opportunities with other regional and statewide programs, a resource toolbox unique to their needs, and more.
“Main Streets are the heart and soul of our communities, both culturally and economically,” said OCRA Executive Director Fred Glynn. “Congratulations to these Main Street programs for earning this designation and continuing to better our Hoosier communities.”
The three programs will join the 16 Indiana communities already nationally accredited, bringing the total to 19 Nationally Accredited Main Street organizations across the state.
To learn more about the Indiana Main Street program, visit in.gov/ocra/mainstreet.