Knox-area business owners, residents, and elected officials are coming together to revitalize the city’s downtown. The first steps were taken Monday to form a nonprofit organization to pursue an Indiana Main Street designation. That would open the door to significant grant opportunities.
The group took some of the first preliminary steps needed to turn in the required letter of intent to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs by this Friday. The name “Knox Main Street United” was chosen for the committee, and outgoing Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem was selected as the point person to oversee the application.
This year, OCRA has expanded the designation into three separate levels, where the amount of support a community receives depends on how many requirements the organization is able to meet. Knox Main Street United opted to pursue an Indiana Accredited Main Street designation, the middle level.
That would allow the group to apply for state-funded programs, including the Main Street Revitalization Program after three years. But Mayor Dennis Estok noted there are other smaller grants the organization could pursue in the meantime. He suggested that the group should focus on the area bounded by Mound, Bender, Shield, and Pearl Streets.
Estok commented that the city should have pursued a Main Street designation a long time ago and he thinks the city will see the rewards over the coming years. Norem said it will be a good thing for the community and credited Estok for laying the foundation.
Group members plan to meet with OCRA’s community liaison later this month. The full application is due March 5.
