Ellspermann Announces New Main Street City

A northeast Indiana city has joined the Indiana Main Street Program. Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann says Columbia City now has access to professional assistance and is eligible to seek improvement funding through the initiative. April 10, 2014

News Release

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann announced today that Columbia City Main Street is joining the Indiana Main Street (IMS) Program. The IMS program encourages

economic development, improvement and restoration in the downtown areas of Indiana cities and towns.

“I'm pleased to welcome Columbia City to the Indiana Main Street Program,” said Ellspermann.

“Downtown districts are vital centers of culture and commerce in Hoosier communities. IMS programs will help Columbia City maintain these areas and restore them for the years to come.”

Columbia City Main Street will join more than 110 other Indiana Main Street Communities. Main

Street communities have access to professional assistance and are eligible to apply for improvement grants. All aspects of IMS are designed to promote economic development and revitalization in the downtown areas of Indiana communities – emphasizing design, organizaton, promotion and economic restructuring. IMS is administered by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA).

“We are proud to have Columbia City Main Street as part of the Indiana Main Street family,” said Indiana Main Street Program Manager Shae Kmicikewycz. “We welcome them to the Indiana Main Street Program and look forward to the improvements that will be made in downtown Columbia City.”

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs was created by legislation in 2005, making rural Indiana a major focus for the first time. For additional information on OCRA and its programs, visit www.in.gov/ocra. For updates from the Lt. Governor and the agencies she oversees, visit www.in.gov/lgov. Information on Indiana Main Street can be found at http://www.in.gov/ocra/mainstreet.htm.

Source: The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs