Lt. Gov. Crouch, OCRA Announce 11 Communities Will Receive The 2022 Indiana Main Street Designation

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced 11 organizations have been designated as recognized Indiana Main Street programs. The Indiana Main Street program encourages community-driven revitalization of downtown areas in Hoosier cities and towns.

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.

“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 incoming programs include the following communities:

Nationally Accredited Main Streets:

• The Heart of Lebanon
• Main Street Richmond

Indiana Accredited Main Streets:

• North Vernon Main Street
• Main Street Greencastle

OCRA’s Downtown Affiliate Networks:

• Downtown Danville Partnership
• Greendale Main Street
• Main Street LaGrange
• Community Action Leading Loogootee
• Downtown Princeton
• Delphi Main Street
• 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 INDIANA MAIN STREET

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. They work every day to turn the tide in their communities – catalyzing reinvestment, creating jobs and fostering pride of place. IMS is housed within the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, an agency of Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch’s family of business.

ABOUT MAIN STREET AMERICA

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.