Welcome! The Ohio Main Street Class of 2007



Yesterday, Heritage Ohio proudly announced the six new communities that will be joining the Ohio Main Street Program in 2007. These communities are Bryan, Clifton (Cincinnati), Historic Gateway Neighborhood (Cleveland), Kent, Portsmouth, Historic Warehouse District (Cleveland), Kenton and Vermilion.

These new Ohio Main Street Programs join an elite group of communities dedicated to a comprehensive revitalization strategy, known as the Main Street Approach.™

The six new programs were selected as Heritage Ohio Main Street communities through a competitive application process. Each program will receive intensive training and technical support needed to restore their commercial and neighborhood districts to centers of community activity and commerce.

The ceremony was held at the Ohio Statehouse Atrium in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Development, which celebrated the new Community Development Block Grant Recipients.

BRYAN
Bryan is located in Northwest Ohio and has a population of 39,188. Downtown Bryan is 23 square blocks and has 150 buildings. They are the County seat for Williams County. The mission of Downtown Bryan, Inc. is to serve as a catalyst to improve, enhance, strengthen, and revitalize Bryan’s downtown historical business district through public and private interests to create a sustaining, vibrant, positive, and exciting city center comprised of retail, commercial, professional, cultural, historical, governmental, and religious services.

CLIFTON-CINCINNATI
The Clifton Gaslight Main Street District is located in Cincinnati and Hamilton County. The neighborhood population is 8,546, is 7 square blocks and has 71 buildings. The mission of Clifton Gaslight Main Street is to increase business vitality and promote the Ludlow business district while enhancing and preserving the neighborhood’s unique historic character. The partnering of Clifton residents, property owners, community organizations and businesses will strengthen the urban village of Clifton as an exceptional place to live, work, shop and play in the city.

HISTORIC GATEWAY NEIGHBORHOOD-CLEVELAND
The historic Gateway neighborhood is located in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. The neighborhood population is 1,000, is 17 square blocks and has 148 buildings. The mission of the Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation is to provide the necessary tools to foster an environment that gives rise to a thriving residential, commercial, and entertainment community.

KENT
Kent is located in Portage County and has a population of 27,906. Downtown Kent is 18 square blocks, is spread out among 12 streets and crosses the Cuyahoga River, and has 120 buildings. The mission of Main Street Kent is to utilize the resources and unique qualities of Kent to broaden and strengthen the economic base of the central business district, preserve the historic integrity of landmarks and buildings, sustain and enhance arts and cultural resources, support existing business, invite new business, and forge positive, lasting relationships among the University, government, business and community.

PORTSMOUTH
Portsmouth is the County Seat of Scioto County and has a population of 20,909. Downtown Portsmouth is 38 square blocks and has 435 buildings. Main Street Portsmouth will preserve and promote the historic integrity of downtown Portsmouth and the Boneyfiddle Historic District. Our program will stimulate development of the District and create a positive image for the District by following the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Four-Point Approach to downtown revitalization.

HISTORIC WAREHOUSE DISTRICT-CLEVELAND
The Historic Warehouse District is located in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. It has a population of 2,500, is 9 square blocks and has 83 buildings. The purpose of the Historic Warehouse District Development Corporation is to stimulate, coordinate and strengthen successful quality reinvestment in the landmark Warehouse District of Downtown Cleveland.

Its goal is to create and sustain an exemplary residential, commercial and retail neighborhood in the heart of the City through active and committed partnership with neighborhood, business, civic and government leaders. The Development Corporation further believes the Warehouse District’s central location, thoughtful adaptive reuse of historic buildings, complementary new use of undeveloped sites and enrichment of the Warehouse District’s distinctive identity will provide needed texture and lasting influence in shaping Cleveland’s urban fabric.

In 2003, a pilot project was launched with 7 communities to enable startup programs the ability to work toward the goal of developing the program into a full Main Street Program. Today, 2 of those programs graduate. They have worked for 3 years building their organizations, funding, and support and have hired full-time managers.

KENTON
Kenton is the County Seat for Hardin County and has a population of 8,336. Downtown Kent is 14 square blocks and has 86 buildings. Main Street Kenton will promote the revitalization and historic preservation of the Hardin County Courthouse Square.

VERMILION
Vermilion is located in Erie County and has a population of 10,927. The downtown is sixteen square blocks and has 77 buildings. The mission of Main Street Vermilion is to stimulate economic development in the historic commercial and residential district of the city of Vermilion; to preserve the commercial and residential character of the historic business and residential district and to protect the features, which define its character; and to receive, administer and distribute funds in connection with any activities related to these purposes.