Heritage Ohio Welcomes Downtown Marion as the State’s Newest Affiliate Main Street Program
Heritage Ohio is proud to welcome Downtown Marion, Inc. as the state’s newest Affiliate Main Street Community, marking a major step forward in the city’s downtown revitalization. This recognition builds on a partnership that began in 2022 and highlights Marion’s long-term commitment to revitalizing the heart of the city through local leadership, historic preservation and community collaboration.
The announcement comes as Marion celebrates winning the national Strongest Town Contest presented by Strong Town’s. The city stood out for its hands-on, inclusive planning, including the “Love Your Neighborhood” initiative, which brings residents and city staff together to clean up neighborhoods, identify challenges and co-create solutions. Flexible zoning encourages infill development, and grassroots innovations like mid-block crosswalks and strategic transit partnerships are making Marion’s core more walkable and connected.
“Marion has done incredible work building capacity, recruiting strong volunteers for leadership positions, and hiring an outstanding executive director who has a sincere passion for his community,” said Matt Wiederhold, executive director of Heritage Ohio. “They’ve demonstrated a local commitment to preserving their architectural history, securing sustainable funding, and establishing strategic partnerships with local leaders. We’re excited to continue supporting their progress.”
The Ohio Main Street Program, based on Main Street America’s proven four-point approach to revitalization, helps communities like Marion transform their historic business districts into vibrant centers of civic and economic life. As an Affiliate Main Street Community, Marion continues to grow its visibility and credibility statewide, drawing from a strong peer network and increasing its capacity to attract investment and talent to its historic core.
“This advancement reflects the dedication of everyone involved in Downtown Marion,” said Allen Wilson, Executive Director of Downtown Marion, Inc. “It opens new opportunities for growth and deeper community engagement. We’re proud to be part of this network and eager to keep moving forward with Heritage Ohio’s support.”
Marion joins twenty other Ohio Main Street communities—including Coshocton, Delaware, Kent, Lorain, Marietta, Medina, Middletown, Millersburg, Painesville, Piqua, Ravenna, Tiffin, Tipp City, Troy, Van Wert, Vermillion, Wadsworth, Wellington, Westerville and Wooster.
For more information regarding the Heritage Ohio Main Street Program, contact Heritage Ohio at 614.258.6200 or visit heritageohio.org.
Webinar: Partnering with The Ohio CDC Association
Wednesday, June 26th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Ohio CDC Association is a statewide membership organization of nearly 300 locally-based rural and urban nonprofits and aligned organizations that work to rebuild neighborhoods through initiatives such as economic development, affordable housing, financial education, and local food access. OCDCA supports member organizations through capacity building, programs, and public policy advocacy, especially at the Ohio Statehouse. As discussions around housing development heat up in Columbus, members of the OCDCA team will share about new state-funded housing programs and proposals for additional policy changes that may be coming. Additionally, they will share about their work supporting community development nonprofits around Ohio, and share opportunities for historic preservation organizations to join their membership.
About Our Presenter
Torey Hollingsworth is Executive Director of the Ohio CDC Association, a statewide organization that fosters vibrant neighborhoods and improves the quality of life in all communities through advocacy and capacity building of its member agencies.
Before joining OCDCA in 2023, Torey served as the Director of the Office of the Dayton City Commission, and Senior Policy Aide for Mayor Nan Whaley, where she focused on issues related to eviction prevention, police reform, housing quality, and reducing gun violence. Prior to returning to her hometown of Dayton, Torey also held roles at Greater Ohio Policy Center, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) and as an AmeriCorps VISTA.
Torey received her Masters of City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University and her BA
from the University of Chicago. Torey and her husband, Michael, live in Dayton's Historic Huffman
neighborhood.
Webinar: Partnering with Museums to Enrich Your Community’s Story
Wednesday, June 12th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Ohio has over 1300 museums and historic sites – with at least one organization in each of our 88 counties, museums are natural partners to help tell your community’s story, and preserve its legacy for future generations.
Learn about Ohio’s statewide organization for museums and museum professionals, the Ohio Museums Association, and how OMA can help connect you with opportunities and museums in your area.
Then, hear from museums that have worked closely with their Main Street partners to learn about the impact and opportunities these relationships have opened for all parties involved.
About Our Presenter
Johnna McEntee (she/her) has worked in the museum association field for over twenty years and is the Executive Director of the Ohio Museums Association (OMA) – a position she has held since 2011.
During her time at OMA, Johnna has been involved in many state-wide and national museum initiatives, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services Connecting to Collections program, the American Alliance of Museums’ Museums Advocacy Day – and was honored to receive the Advocacy Leadership Award from AAM during the 13th annual Museums Advocacy Day, is a planning partner for Ohio Statehood Day, founder of the Ohio Statewide Organization Advocacy Roundtable, co-founder of the Columbus chapter of Emerging Museum Professionals, was Midwest Regional Representative to the National Alliance of State Museum Associations, was a Steering Committee member for the national initiative for state museum associations “Museums United Phase II,” Community Engagement Center Advisory Committee Representative for the Ohio Digital Network, and is a member of IDEAL Columbus – a central Ohio DEAI working group. During COVID, Johnna was a planning and contributing partner of the Local History Helps committee. Johnna was named and currently serves as a representative for the America 250 – Ohio Museums, Arts Organizations, and Cultural Institutions Committee.
Johnna is a founding member of the national state museum associations organization, the Coalition of State Museum Associations (COSMA). She recently completed her term serving as immediate Past-Chair for the COSMA Foundation Board, chair of the COSMA Program Committee, chair of the COSMA Summit Committee, and member of the COSMA Nomination Committee.
Erin Augenstein serves as the Executive Director of Campus Martius Museum and the Ohio River Museum. She holds a BS in Special Education from Miami University, a Masters in Education from Muskingum University and a Masters in Strategic Public Relations from George Washington University, with a Certificate in Museum Studies from Northwestern University. Erin believes in the power of Cultural Tourism to bring revenue to our Appalachian communities, and she works collaboratively with regional organizations to provide events, programming, and educational opportunities for local residents and visitors from around the globe.
Webinar: Grow with Google
Wednesday, February 28th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Looking to expand the reach of your small business and get customers in the door?
Google is the #1 source current and potential customers will use to gain information about your business. Learn about all the tools Google can provide to your business to increase business traffic and drive sales.
About Our Presenter
Janet Hurn is a seasoned professional with a passion for education, digital innovation, brand design, and marketing. With over 30 years of experience, she has established herself as an expert in online course development, e-learning administration, and e-consulting. As the Co-Founder of Future Ready Consulting, Janet is dedicated to supporting new and scaling small businesses in their growth journey. Her extensive background as the Senior Director of Regional E-Campus at Miami University has equipped her with valuable insights into instructional technology and innovative methods for online learning. Janet’s expertise, combined with her commitment to staying ahead of the curve, enables her to provide strategic guidance and consultancy services to elevate brands, improve online presence, and effectively reach target audiences. Whether it’s through brand development, website design, or digital marketing strategies, Janet is ready to empower entrepreneurs and business owners to change the world.
Janet has had many accomplishments, innovations and awards. She holds a DMI Certified Marketing Professional certification, Google Analytics certification, and Google Ads certification. She is also the Grow with Google Ohio Digital Coach, where she teaches small businesses all over Ohio how to use Google tools to enhance their businesses. Janet has a strong background in education, with over 30 years of experience as a Senior Instructor of Physics at Miami University. Under her leadership, the Miami Regionals E-Campus was listed on US News and World Report’s Top Online Schools in 2023 and the top 20 Online Schools in 2021. Janet’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the University System of Ohio’s Faculty Innovator Award and the ASCUE.ORG Keynote Speaker honor. Her commitment to excellence and passion for online education make her a valuable asset to the field.