Indiana Ag Connection - Downtown Enhancement Grant Recipients Announced

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Downtown Enhancement Grant Recipients Announced
Indiana Ag Connection - 09/26/2016

Lt. Governor Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) awarded five communities funding for economic development initiatives through the Downtown Enhancement Grant (DEG) program.

The cities of Madison and Tipton and the towns of Bremen, Mooresville and Newburgh will each receive grant funds ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to improve the local quality of life, spur economic development and advance avenues for increasing private investment and employment in their downtown areas.

"Establishing and maintaining a successful downtown requires vision and collaboration between local governments and businesses," said Lt. Governor Holcomb. "These grants will aid in those efforts and will result in a sustainable economic spark for these communities."

The DEG program, which accepted applications in both the spring and fall of 2016, is designed to foster innovative approaches to activities that support and promote community based planning, broad partnerships and beautification. Qualifying projects are those which promote economic development in the downtown areas and will enhance the quality of life in the community; applicants must be an OCRA designated Indiana Main Street community.

Bremen Community Cares, in partnership with the Town of Bremen, has been awarded $10,000 towards their façade improvement program. The project will provide a 50% reimbursement of total approved costs up to a maximum of $2,500 per business/building owner. The grant will be available to street-level property and business owners with a storefront presence in the designated downtown area.

The Madison Main Street Program has been awarded $10,000 towards the Mulberry Street Improvement project. The project will fund a building/streetscape grant for the Mulberry Street block, the oldest surviving commercial area in Madison with buildings dating back to the 1820's. The program will assist 15 property owners in improving their properties. Additional partners include: the City of Madison, Visit Madison, Inc., Madison's Convention and Visitor's Bureau and Nyberg Design.

Celebrate Mooresville Main Street has received $10,000 towards their plaques and wayfinding signage project. This project hopes to raise interest and public awareness in the historical Mooresville downtown district by installing wayfinding signage and engraved building plaques that include the name of the building, architect and the year built. Additional partners include: the Town of Mooresville, Greater Mooresville Chamber of Commerce, Mooresville Street Department and over twenty-five downtown businesses and merchants.

Historic Newburgh, Inc. has been granted $8,000 to complete their downtown Newburgh improvements project. This project will upgrade the Newburgh downtown public parking area, install wayfinding signage along Newburgh's Rivertown Trail as well as install park benches, a brick walkway and fencing in the newly acquired riverfront Meditation Park. Additional Partners include: the Town of Newburgh, Newburgh's Boy Scout Troop 16 and Mulberry Jeans Accents, LLC.

Tipton Main Street Association has received $10,000 to put towards their Diana Theater façade improvement and mural project. The project will restore the east wall of the Diana Theater in order to create a city mural and restore its historic marquee. Additional partners include: the City of Tipton, Tipton County Chamber of Commerce, Tipton Community Theatre, Tipton Economic Development Corporations, Tipton County Board of Commissioners, the Paikos Family, owners of the Diana Theater and many citizens of Tipton.

The Downtown Enhancement Grant is a component of OCRA's Indiana Main Street Program, which is founded on a Four Point Approach to downtown development: organization, design, promotion and economic vitality. Across the state, 117 Indiana Main Street communities work on these four main aspects of their downtowns in order to drive restoration and revitalization efforts.

For more information about the Downtown Enhancement Grant and Indiana Main Street programs, visit www.in.gov/ocra/mainstreet.htm.

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