Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs Indiana Main Street Updates Jackie Swihart, IMS Coordinator September 24, 2020 Agency under the Office of Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch
Agenda Overview of OCRA Background on NMSC Indiana Main Street: Background and Future Recent IMS initiatives through COVID-19 Questions
Office of Community and Rural Affairs VISION: OCRA works with Indiana communities to build relevant and economically thriving places where people want to live, grow, work and play. MISSION: OCRA works with local, state and national partners to provide resources and technical assistance to aid communities in shaping and achieving their vision for community and economic development.
OCRA Community Liaisons Southwest Northwest Lisa Muench, (317) 504-6965 Gerry White, (317) 694-8372 LMuench@ocra.IN.gov gewhite@ocra.in.gov Northeast Southeast Andrea Kern, (317) 607-4821 Jennifer Voris, (317) 690-9736 Akern1@ocra.in.gov jvoris@ocra.in.gov East Central West Central Colette Childress, (317) 416-3281 DeeDee Leonard, (317) 450-5078 CChildress@ocra.IN.gov DLeonard1@ocra.IN.gov
Encourages Economic Coordinating Program Development and of the National Main Revitalization of Street Center Indiana Downtown Areas Main Street Program Provides support for the implementation of Emphasizes local strategies to Preservation and stimulate long-term Development of growth and pride in Traditional Downtown the heart of the Resources communities’ downtown core
IM IMS Program Managers Jackie Swihart IMS Coordinator Abby Chapman IMS Manager of Outreach and Organization
• NMSC was developed in the late 1970’s to help communities revitalize their downtown areas National Main • Started as a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation Street Center: • Launched as an independent subsidiary of the National Trust in 2013 • Rebranded as Main Street America in 2015 Background • Madison, IN was one of three communities nationwide to participate as a pilot • Legislation was passed in 1985 to establish the Indiana Main Street Program
The Main Street Approach ™ • Offers community-based revitalization initiatives with a practical, adaptable framework for downtown transformation that is easily tailored to local conditions • Begins with creating a vision for success that is rooted in a solid understanding of the market realities of the district and is informed by broad community engagement
Typical Organizational Structure • Distinct organization and governing body • Typically 501(c)3 nonprofit
Common Misconceptions About IMS Main Street programs The Indiana Main Main Street programs are not just party Street program is not are not the same as planners a grant program an EDC or Chamber They ARE economic It’s a long -term, There’s room for all development community-driven, to work together organizations volunteer program collaboratively
Takeaways Placemaking IS economic Main Street Makes a Place: development: “The place is becoming “Economic development is more important than the really the result of creating product.” – National places where people want Association for Realtors to be.” – Oklahoma City Mayor, Mick Cornett
OCRA suspended IMS applications and evaluated the scope of its program Indiana Main Street Consulted with Main Street America, IMS Council, and OCRA Moratorium staff to determine next steps Led to creation of a new program structure and definition of historic preservation ethic
1. Has broad-based community support for the 5. Has an active board of directors and committees commercial district revitalization process, with 6. Has an adequate operating budget strong support from both the public and private sectors 7. Has a paid professional program manager 2. Has developed vision and mission statements 8. Conducts a program of ongoing training for staff relevant to community conditions and to the and volunteers local Main Street program's organizational 9. Reports key statistics stage 10. Is a current member of the Main Street 3. Has a comprehensive Main Street work plan America™ Network 4. Possesses an historic preservation ethic
MSA Standards of Performance Standard 4: Possesses an historic preservation ethic. Historic preservation is central to the Main Street program's purpose and is what makes historic and traditional commercial districts authentic places. Historic preservation involves saving, rehabilitating, and finding new uses for existing buildings, as well as intensifying the uses of the existing buildings, through building improvement projects and policy and regulatory changes that make it easier to develop property within the commercial district. Angola, IN
New Definition of Historic Preservation Ethic A commercial district whose majority of architecture is at least 50 years old, maintains historic integrity and OR historic fabric (evidenced a commercial district that OR by the survival of physical includes cultural history as characteristics that a combination of the two part of their preservation existed during the definitions. ethic and emphasizes property’s historic period), authentic stories of place, and is significant in American history and/or architecture at the national, state, or local level,
Choosing to prioritize quality over quantity Why Change is Coming New Accreditation standards forming from NMSC for State Coordinating Programs
Implementation of Changes Community interest in the program will be highly considered OCRA will work with NMSC to implement changes Formal announcement of these changes planned for November 9, 2020
New IMS Applicants • Application will open November 9, 2020 • Open to cities, towns, and now individual neighborhoods • Application deadline will be in February 2021 • Those interested should work with OCRA Community Liaison to prepare application • The “Checklist for Starting a Main Street Program” on pg. 16 of the Indiana Main Street Program Guide should still be used as a guide
Changes will cater toward local conditions and capacity Planning occurred through 2019 Summary ry Implementation from 2020, into 2021 New application to open Nov. 2020
IMS & COVID-19
Madison • Madison Main Street worked with the Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County to offer grants reimbursing up to half of a business’s rent or mortgage costs during May • Pivoting “Fourth Friday” event to virtual format → featured videos of small business owners showcasing their businesses, providing contact information so viewers could follow-up for purchases or gift cards
Shelbyville • Shelbyville Main Street partnered with the Blue River Community Foundation & Shelby County Development Corporation to pay local attorneys to help small businesses apply for disaster relief loans or paycheck protection. • Deployed downtown dollars: For every $25 spent on local gift cards, the program would provide $10 downtown dollars to spend at local shops through September
La Lawrenceburg • Lawrenceburg Main Street partnered with the City to award more than $270,000 in emergency grants to small businesses and offered virtual tours showcasing local shops on social media
Evansville • Downtown Evansville provided travel-size bottles of hand sanitizer with every $25 spent at local businesses • Created a virtual tip jar to provide relief for service industry workers • Posted uplifting stories on their blog, “Heart of Downtown Evansville” and introduced readers to businesses downtown
Jeffersonville • Jeffersonville launched an online crowdfunding campaign, raising over $15,000 for grants to local businesses • Hired local artist Cortland Waters Bartley to create inspiring chalk art messages on sidewalks in front of downtown businesses
IMS & COVID-19 • MSA conducted an online survey between March 25 and April 6, 2020 • More than 5,850 small business owners responded nationally
Survey Findings: National • The MSA survey indicates that millions of small businesses will be at great risk of closing permanently if the crisis continues for several months. • COVID- 19 has had a devastating impact on small businesses’ revenue, and millions of Americans employed by our nation’s smallest businesses are at risk of unemployment as a result. Approximately 35.7 million Americans employed by small businesses appear to be at risk of unemployment. • Business owners primarily need financial assistance and penalty-free extensions on expenses. • State and cities need to invest in small business education and technical support programs rather than pull back spending on these programs.
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