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Become the Next Great Ohio Main Street Community

Posted by on April 8, 2024 · Leave a Comment 

Do you love your downtown, and feel that it could benefit from being part of a national movement for revitalization? Are you interested in preserving your community history and supporting locally owned and operated businesses? Are you missing out on the economic impact of the heritage tourism economy in Ohio? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, maybe it’s time to consider the Ohio Main Street program.

Heritage Ohio, the State-wide coordinating agency under Main Street America, is looking to expand the program with five new Ohio Main Street communities. The Main Street approach, created in the late 1980s as a model for downtown revitalization, preservation, and economic development, is a nationally respected framework that is followed by over 2,000 communities that value their history and local economy. In Ohio, 52 historic communities are currently part of the Main Street program.

The path to becoming an Ohio Main Street Program begins with a Downtown Assessment Resource Team (DART) visit. Thanks to special funding, Heritage Ohio is currently able to scholarship up to 50% of the $5,000 cost of the DART visit and Main Street pipeline planning process for up to five Ohio communities. A DART is a two-day, deep dive workshop in a community, when Heritage Ohio staff conducts site visits, community visioning and input modeling, walking tours, and interviews with key community stakeholders to determine if there is capacity for a full Main Street program.

The initial application is due on May 10th. 

 

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Webinar: Using Statistics to Show Your Economic Impact

Posted by on March 18, 2024 · Leave a Comment 

Wednesday, April 24th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Monthly reporting and gathering statistics are two of the least exciting parts of any downtown managers’ job, but what if you could use those numbers to show the value of your work, and the economic impact your local program is generating for your community?

Lorna Swisher and Matt Wiederhold, two former Ohio Main Street directors, will walk you through the process of completing monthly reports, and then share a reinvestment template as a tool to support funding requests, illustrate the local and regional impact your program is generating, and help you document in black and white how your downtown development initiatives are a vibrant economic development machine for your community. 

About Our Presenters

Photo of Lorna SwisherLorna Swisher joined Heritage Ohio’s staff in October 2023, having previously served as the Director of Mainstreet Piqua for 26 years. With a background in broadcasting and public relations, she describes herself as a nonprofit ‘wonk’, emphasizing the importance of organizational infrastructure for effective operation. Lorna served on the Hotel/Library Legacy Alliance, which successfully restored the Fort Piqua Plaza in downtown Piqua. This $22 million project revitalized a deteriorating hotel into a vibrant community asset housing the Piqua Public Library, a banquet facility, and restaurants. Under her leadership, the Main Street program in Piqua received national accreditation from Main Street America/National Trust for Historic Preservation each year. In her current role as Assistant Director of Revitalization, Lorna supports Heritage Ohio’s Main Street programs.

Photo of Matt Wiederhold

Matt Wiederhold joined Heritage Ohio in May 2022 as its executive director. Matt began his career in historic preservation and community development in 2001, with an Urban Main Street Program in Uptown, Toledo, Ohio, as part of a pilot project with LISC and the National Main Street Center. In 2003, he accepted a position on the west side of Cleveland with the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization, and guided the rehabilitation of numerous historic storefronts, recruited small businesses to fill the storefronts, and eventually became the project manager for the initial development of the Gordon Square Arts District, including the renovation of the Capitol Theatre. In 2008, Matt became the first executive director of Main Street Medina, and have spent most of the past 15 years working in that community, guiding the development of their historic district, and working to make Medina a notable, historic destination. Matt is a graduate of the University of Toledo with a degree in art history, having focused on American art and architecture, 1860-1940.

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What's Happening on Main Street – May 2017

Posted by on April 19, 2017 · Leave a Comment 

May 1

May 5

  • First Friday: Upper Floor Tours – Greenville 

    Here’s your chance to tour the upper floors of the beautiful buildings of downtown Greenville.

  • First Friday: Classic Car Cruise-In – Mount Vernon

    Enjoy a wonderful evening in downtown Mount Vernon with dozens of classic cars from yesteryear.

  • First Friday – Marietta

    With about 22 restaurants and 40 active retailers, plus two hotels and a number of venues for night life, historic downtown Marietta is a destination for everyone and anyone to enjoy a night out on the town.

  • First Friday: Chalk it Up! – Middletown

    Chalk artists will line the streets to showcase their work, turning downtown Middletown into a living work of art, and listen to live music at Governor’s Square from the Madison High School Steel Drum Band!

  • First Friday: Wine Vine – Tipp City

    With your ticket you will get to travel from downtown from shop to shop and be able to choose from an array of wines recommendations.

  • Wine & Chocolate Walk – Painesville

    Enjoy delicious samples of a variety of chocolates and wines at participating merchants in downtown Painesville.

May 6

  • Downtown Piqua Clean Up Day

    Be a part of spring cleaning up downtown Piqua! There is always plenty to do so get your organization or family involved.

  • Street Art Saturday – Portsmouth

    Shop, eat, and stroll down the street to see local art and hear music that reflects our community the first Saturday of summer months.

  • Hidden Places, Secret Spaces – Marietta

    For one afternoon, you have special permission to visit areas of historic buildings that are normally off-limits so that you can explore a whole new side of Marietta!

May 11

May 12

May 13

  • Girls’ Night Out – Lebanon

    Girls, it’s time to come have some fun and shop and in Downtown Lebanon!

  • Antiques in the Alley – Millersburg

    Stroll the streets as you search for treasures to call your own. Find inspiration and ideas on how others have turned trash…into treasures. Browse antique stores or stop at the local brewery and try our local brew!

May 16

May 17

May 18

May 19

  • Taste of the Arts – Piqua

    A delightful evening of fun, music and food in downtown Piqua. Be sure to stop and see the various demonstrations in the storefronts while enjoying a variety of live music. Plus, there will be a huge selection of food options from various local restaurants and caterers.

  • Party on Main – Painesville

    Kick-off your summer in Downtown Painesville on Main Street with a huge dance party featuring the famous Disco Inferno.

May 20

May 23

May 24

May 25

  • Knowing Your Home: How to Contract A Repair – Lakewood

    This workshop will focus on the process of working with a home repair/improvement contractor. We will start with the basics of understanding your repair and then work our way through the process of getting estimates, scheduling the job and then making sure the repair has been completed in a workmanlike manner ensuring a well done job.

  • Take a Hike!: Playhouse Square Tour – Cleveland

    Known for being the second largest performing arts center in the country, Playhouse Square boasts even more than incredible theatres. Learn about the past grandeur of Euclid Avenue, renowned department stores, such as Halle’s, Bonwit Teller and Sterling Linder, important social clubs, such as The Union Club, the awe-inspiring Dazzle the District project and the historic Statler Hotel.

May 26

May 27

May 30

May 31

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Main Street Board Member 101 Webinar

Posted by on April 7, 2017 · Leave a Comment 

April 12, 2017 1 pm – 2 pm

Join us to hear from a long-time Main Street volunteer, board member and ex-president on the ins and outs of giving time to a local Main Street program. This webinar will be in an interview format to cover everything a new or existing board member needs know. We will ask about personal reasons for involvement, how to manage personal time, work time and volunteer time. How to take breaks when you need them. How to integrate the whole family. How to be a volunteer who manages staff. And much, much more. Come prepared with your own questions and join us for this webinar.

Heritage Ohio Members Register Here

Not a Member? Join Heritage Ohio now to get access.

PRESENTER BIO

Nicole Fowles is the Communications Manager for the Delaware County District Library. She is also a current board member and past president of the Main Street Delaware program. In her tenure with Main Street Delaware, the program was annually accredited, reached its 15 year anniversary, and then-Executive Director Frances Jo Hamilton was awarded with Main Street Manager of the Year. Nicole’s strengths as a board member lie in organization, commitment and conflict resolution.

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