Angola part of planning effort with National Main Street

KPC News Service

Nov 30, 2018

INDIANAPOLIS — Angola is one of seven Indiana Main Street communities that will participate in transformation workshops led by National Main Street Center consultants this winter.

In addition to Angola, Beech Grove, Jasper, Madison, Peru, Terre Haute and Winamac volunteered for this pilot program, sponsored by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

“All seven communities have demonstrated the effective implementation of the Main Street Four Point Approach,” said Jodi Golden, executive director of OCRA. “Our goal for each Main Street organization is to have a comprehensive plan to guide their efforts for the next three to five years.”

The two-day workshops will assist the Indiana Main Street organizations to define community informed and market-driven strategies that can direct and strengthen their revitalization efforts.

“We believe these Indiana communities will be able to implement the recommendations and demonstrate a measurable impact to be a case study for other Main Street communities,” said Matt Wagner, vice president of revitalization programs of the National Main Street Center. “Community engagement and enthusiasm will make for a dynamic and successful program!”

The visits will begin with community input and will then be provided with research on market conditions, specific gaps and key opportunities that can strengthen the downtown district.

Angola has been working on revitalization efforts since 2006 when a first study was conducted. That was followed by Angola’s 2020 planning effort that led to revitalization of the Public Square and eventually the mound.

Through the city’s office of downtown planning, more efforts have been undertaken. This past Monday, a public forum was conducted by the National Main Street officials along with Indiana Main Street officials so residents could voice their ideas on the direction of the downtown.

Many efforts are also being conducted by the Downtown Angola Coalition, a volunteer group that is involved in much of the direction of the downtown as well as downtown events.

For more information on the Main Street workshops, visit in.gov/ocra/mainstreet.htm, or the National Main Street Center at mainstreet.org/home.