Downtown Knox has been added to the base level of the Indiana Main Street program. Knox Main Street United is now an accredited member of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs Downtown Affiliate Network. It’s one of four incoming programs announced by OCRA on Wednesday.
The accreditation gives the organization access to Indiana Main Street and Main Street America training sessions, networking opportunities, and other resources. To qualify for the Downtown Affiliate Network, a program has to show that it’s “building a foundation toward comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts.” That means having an active board of directors and committees, vision and mission statements, and a comprehensive work plan, as well as actively preserving historic buildings.
OCRA recently expanded Indiana’s Main Street 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 was aiming for an Indiana Accredited Main Street designation, the middle level, but ended up with the lower Downtown Affiliate Network designation.
Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch welcomed the four communities to the program in Wednesday’s press release, saying they’ve proven themselves as change makers “and are committed to community economic development in their downtowns.”
