April 4, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.
Hope recognized by lieutenant governor for Main Street program
By From Emily Duncan-
Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs recently announced the designation of Hope as the newest member of the Indiana Main Street Program, which encourages economic development, redevelopment and improvement to the downtown areas in Indiana cities and towns.
"Our main streets play a vital role in providing a quality of place where people want to live, work and raise a family," said Lt. Governor Ellspermann. "I welcome Hope to the Indiana Main Street Program and commend them for collaborating with one another to ensure their hometown is revitalized for future economic growth and prosperity."
Main Street of HOPE, located in Bartholomew County, is a community organization dedicated to the revitalization of the Hope Town Square through historic preservation and beautification. The group will focus their efforts on promoting local businesses while attracting new businesses, creating new housing opportunities, and becoming a destination for tourism. Some of their projects include, but are not limited to: the Pride in the Community Clean Up days, continuation of the Farmer's Market and Mural Project, and assisting in the maintenance of the flowers in the downtown. The group began under the leadership of the late Larry Simpson. This designation is a reminder of Larry's legacy and the pride he had for his community.
"We look forward to witnessing the future success and revitalization in Hope," said OCRA Executive Director Bill Konyha. "Main Street of Hope has been a dedicated partner in building on the community's assets and further advancing the efforts to improve the quality of place for both current and future residents."
The program, which is administered by OCRA, is founded on a Four Point Approach to downtown development: organization, design, promotion and economic vitality. Hope, along with the more than 119 other Indiana Main Street communities work on these four main aspects of the downtown in order to focus on restoration and revitalization efforts within their communities.[[In-content Ad]]
