 News about this year's Downtown Development Week
Downtown Development Week (DDW) is a week-long celebration typically held during the second week of October. Not only does the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) help promote events, provide promotional material and participate in the events, but we also release a small grant to help conduct events in five rural downtowns. Unfortunately, due to circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic, OCRA decided it is best to not host DDW this year. That being said, the plan is to have DDW return in 2021.
For this year, OCRA wants to still find ways to promote your downtowns, specifically your small businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. OCRA is planning to do a promotional social media blitz for the week leading up to Small Business Saturday, to also include Cyber Monday (E-Commerce focus), and Giving Tuesday. More information will be available over the next month about how to get involved. If anyone has feedback on how OCRA can best support you during this small business push, please let us know.
In the meantime, it might be advantageous for you to begin planning ways to support and promote your small businesses as we continue through the COVID-19 recovery and work through both local and CDC guidelines.
OCRA wants to be a good partner during this constantly evolving time and will look forward to the planned 2021 celebration. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Abby Chapman or Jackie Swihart.
 Applications are due in June for the Preserving Women's Legacy Grants
Preserving Women’s Legacy Grants catalyze Main Street communities to discover, preserve and activate locations that tell stories about women’s contributions in Indiana. Grants of $15,000 to $40,000 will be awarded to four to seven communities for projects beginning on or after July 1, 2020. Funds can be used to support historic preservation work, placemaking, public art, trail signage and other tangible projects that commemorate Indiana women’s history and promote visitation to Main Street communities. Grants require a 1:1 match. Applications are due Monday, June 15, 2020. Full information about eligibility, requirements and more can be found in the grant guidelines.
Thank you to all who submitted your 2019 Indiana Main Street assessments and return on investment data. Collecting these reinvestment statistics provides a tangible measurement of your local Main Street program’s progress and is crucial to garnering financial and programmatic support for your revitalization efforts.
A new marketplace for personal protective equipment (PPE) that will serve as an added resource for Indiana small businesses returning to work is now available. To be eligible to purchase from it, an organization must:
- Be a business or nonprofit organization registered to do business in Indiana with the Indiana Secretary of State;
- Employ less than 150 associates; and
- Be identified in the reopening plan as an entity that must use PPE as a condition of operating in order to comply with safe workplace requirements.
Visit Back on Track for more information.
Main Street Forward recovery resources now available
In an effort to provide Main Street programs with clear and strategic direction as economies begin to reopen, Main Street America introduced a new recovery-oriented resource center, Main Street Forward. This new area on their website features a range of free resources for Main Street leaders, including recovery planning tools, guidance as it relates to Four Point activities, research, advocacy efforts and best practices and examples from around the network.
Find tip sheets for recovery ideas as they relate to the Four Points as well as examples of recovery activities from around the Main Street America Network. We also encourage you to check out our tip sheets for Small Business Owners and Community Leaders on how to reopen safely.
Nominate an inspirational senior for a Golden Hoosier award
Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, in collaboration with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Aging, has announced nominations for the 2020 Golden Hoosier award are now being accepted.
To be eligible for the award, the nominee must currently be an Indiana resident, aged 65 or older and have been a volunteer in the community for the past three years. Applications are due June 30, 2020. Access the electronic nomination form here.
|
