Office of Community and Rural Affairs Announces 2016 Indiana Main Street Community Exchanges

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) announces  the agency will sponsor a series of Indiana Main Street Community Exchanges on the last Wednesday of the month during July, August, September, October and November in 2016. The following Indiana Main Street organizations will host an Exchange in their communities:

• July 27: Knightstown (Henry County)
• August 31: Frankfort (Clinton County)
• September 28: Roachdale (Putnam County)
• October 26: Greensburg (Decatur County)
• November 30: Special Holiday Edition – Location To Be Determined

The purpose of the Community Exchanges are to allow Indiana Main Street communities and others to network and learn from one another. The exchanges will give communities an opportunity to discuss local issues, ways others have resolved some of those issues, and innovative tactics Main Street communities are employing to address the needs of their organization, community, and downtown areas.

The November community exchange, will provide communities with the opportunity to kick off the holiday season with new information at a festive event taking place in one of Indiana’s Main Street communities. Any IMS community interested in hosting the event should reach out to their OCRA Community Liaison.

Attendees do not need to be a Main Street organization, participant or staff member to attend; elected officials and other leaders from any community are welcome.  For more information or to register, please visit: http://www.in.gov/ocra/2506.htm. Information will be continuously updated, so check back often.

About the Indiana Main Street Program: Indiana Main Street encourages economic development, redevelopment and improvement of downtown areas of Indiana’s cities and towns. The program is founded on community economic development principles that emphasize preservation and development of traditional downtown resources.  Attendance at one of OCRA’s regional conferences or exchanges meets the requirement to apply for the agency’s Downtown Enhancement Grant program.

For more information, visit www.ocra.in.gov/mainstreet.htm.