INDIANAPOLIS (March 2, 2023) – Today, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced 14 organizations will be designated as Indiana Main Street programs or will be moved into a new Indiana Main Street program level.

The Indiana Main Street Program annually accepts applications for three levels. The levels include:

• Nationally Accredited Main Street: These organizations meet all of the Main Street America Accreditation Standards.
• Aspiring Indiana Accredited Main Street: These organizations are within one year of meeting all Indiana Accreditation Standards but could lack a full-time paid staff person.
• OCRA's Downtown Affiliate Network: These organizations may prefer to specialize in event-related activities only, lack the physical and historical capacity required to qualify as a Main Street organization, or are working towards building organizational capacity to meet the Indiana or Main Street America Accreditation Standards.

“The Indiana Main Street program allows communities to celebrate what makes them unique and showcase their downtown districts,” said Lt. Gov. Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “I look forward to seeing how each of these 14 communities will utilize this program in the coming months.”

Local program’s performances are evaluated by Indiana Main Street, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify organizations that meet rigorous performance standards.

“Congratulations to these 14 communities on earning an Indiana Main Street designation or advancing to the next level of the program,” said OCRA Executive Director Denny Spinner. “Hoosier Main Street communities gain resources, tools and opportunities from our state program, helping fuel their economic development and enhancing their downtown districts. I am eager to see all they accomplish through their new designations.”

The organizations earning new Indiana Main Street designations include:

Nationally Accredited Main Street

• Main Street Brookville
• Historic Downtown Kendallville

Aspiring Indiana Accredited Main Street

• Delphi Main Street
• Dillsboro Main Street
• Streets of Monticello Association

OCRA's Downtown Affiliate Network:

• Restore Old Town Greenwood Inc
• Irvington Development Organization
• GROW Jasonville Inc.
• Mass Ave Cultural Arts District
• Inspire Mishawaka
• One New Harmony
• Discover Oxford
• Association for a Better Rockport
• Discover Downtown Washington

Through their designations, the 14 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, a resource toolbox unique to their needs, and more.

To learn more about the Indiana Main Street program, visit in.gov/ocra/mainstreet. To view the full directory of Indiana Main Street communities, visit in.gov/ocra/mainstreet/community-directory.

-30-

About the Office of Community and Rural Affairs

Under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch, who also serves as the Secretary of Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs’ (OCRA) mission is to work with local, state and national partners to provide resources and technical assistance to assist communities in shaping and achieving their vision for community and economic development. For more information, visit ocra.in.gov.

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 who 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.