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INDIANAPOLIS (May 16, 2023) – Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced the PreservINg Main Street program is open for applications. In partnership with Indiana Landmarks and Indiana Humanities, the program is designed to create a sustainable historic preservation model while building local capacity and a comprehensive downtown revitalization plan. The program additionally provides funding for the preservation of downtown Main Street buildings. “The PreservINg Main Street program is a success story of how collaboration between state government, local officials and non-profits can produce worthwhile, sustainable projects,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Not just a historic preservation project, the PreservINg Main Street program can enhance quality of life and economic revitalization in Hoosier communities.” Non-entitlement communities with an established Nationally Accredited or Indiana Accredited Main Street organization are encouraged to apply if the community has a National Register of Historic Places downtown district. "The PreservINg Main Street program aims to encourage historic preservation in our rural communities," said OCRA Executive Director Denny Spinner. "Preservation efforts help to stimulate job creation, community revitalization, improve quality of life and more. I encourage our interested Main Street communities to apply and take advantage of this program." Three finalists will be selected based on the submitted application, community support and 2022 Main Street annual report data. Site visits will be scheduled for each finalist, which includes a presentation outline of their partnerships and a high-level vision for downtown development. The selected community will be eligible for implementation funds of up to $2 million through OCRA’s Community Development Block Grant program. Additionally there will be multiple capacity building opportunities through a partnership with Indiana Humanities and Indiana Landmarks. Spinner said a partnership with Indiana Landmarks was important to create and continue this program. Indiana Landmarks will: Offer workshops to building and business owners to encourage creativity. Conduct conditions assessment or recommend design and improvements to building owners. Provide education opportunities on preservation. Provide technical assistance to the community foundation on developing a long-term downtown endowment fund. Provide staff for a historic preservation commission with local ordinance. "PreservINg Main Street inspires excellence in communities and demonstrates that preserving historic character is a powerful tool for economic revitalization," said Indiana Landmarks President Marsh Davis. Indiana Humanities will also provide a $10,000 grant to the selected Main Street organization to implement humanities-based programs and activities focused on historic preservation. The Main Street organization may use these funds for short- and long-term humanities efforts in downtown. The funds can also be used for communications and storytelling around the program. Indiana Humanities will also assist and support the community in developing its plans for humanities-based programming and activities. “Indiana Humanities is pleased to partner again with OCRA and Indiana Landmarks in offering the PreservINg Main Street program,” said Indiana Humanities President and CEO Keira Amstutz. “With Indiana Humanities funding, previous grant recipients have engaged their communities in downtown preservation and revitalization work through history-related exhibits, walking tours, video projects and more. Our goal is to help PreservINg Main Street grant recipients utilize the humanities to share the stories of the people and businesses behind their downtown commercial districts, so that the community better understands the value of the grant-funded preservation work and feels a connection to the project.” An informational video on the overall program, timeline and application process are available on OCRA’s website. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on July 13, 2023, through eGMS. Visit in.gov/ocra/preserving-main-street/ for more information.

To the Kendallville Community: On Thursday, March 2, Historic Downtown Kendallville received the exciting news that we achieved accreditation with the National Main Street Association. This is a designation that brings our organization to a whole new level of prestige, while also opening up a variety of new funding opportunities and resources to help us continue our momentum; and to deliver on our mission of “encouraging the economic development, historic preservation, and continuous improvement of downtown Kendallville.” I would like to personally thank the board members, volunteers, downtown merchants, donors, stakeholders, city employees, patrons, and community members who participated in some way to help us achieve this goal. Whether you attended one of our roundtable sessions with the OCRA review team, helped with a Main Street project, donated your time and treasure, provided council and constructive feedback, or participated in some other way — you are ultimately responsible for our success, and for that I am extremely grateful. I look forward to continuing the incredible momentum in downtown Kendallville, and hope that you will continue to engage with us as we move forward in 2023, and beyond. Words are truly not enough to thank you all for your ongoing support! Kristen Johnson Main Street Manager Historic Downtown Kendallville

All who live and work in Noble County are invited to NoblePalooza, an Expo to Thrive! We will be there and hope to see you, too! NoblePalooza will be held at the Community Learning Center (CLC) in Kendallville on Saturday, March 11 from 10 AM to 2 PM. This FREE COMMUNITY EVENT will offer family fun, information, free kids activities, and more - something for all ages! Join us at the CLC, 401 E Diamond Street (former ENMS), in celebration of all the things that make Noble County thrive! WHAT TO SEE & DO: NoblePalooza will feature 100 Noble County-serving organizations who: Invest in our community Provide opportunities for you to engage in the things you care about Engage our youth Help develop leaders to strengthen our community now and into the future Offer opportunities that enrich our quality of life PLUS.... Expo Marketplace #SHOPLOCAL Visit the Expo Marketplace to meet Noble County makers and small business owners who are working to build their businesses. Invest in local entrepreneurism to support their sustainability and growth - and maybe discover a new opportunity to partner and grow together! Bring cash and cards and #SHOPLOCAL! The Crew Business Fair Youth Entrepreneurs NoblePalooza is thrilled to include The Crew Youth Center's annual Youth Business Fair as part of the Expo! Be sure to explore the Business Fair to meet and encourage Noble County youth as they share their business plans, products, services, and dreams! It's another opportunity to #SHOPLOCAL! Helping Others Grow Educational sessions & demonstrations As if NoblePalooza wasn't already jam-packed with opportunities, 2023 is also partnering with Noble County Master Gardeners, hosting "Helping Others Grow", a series of 30-minute educational sessions and demonstrations, exhibits, and vendors (more opportunities to #SHOPLOCAL)! Helping Others Grow extends NoblePalooza to two floors of the CLC - bigger and better than last year! Be sure to visit the Expo website for floor plans and more!

Historic Downtown Kendallville is currently an accredited Indiana Main Street organization and Main Street America Affiliate, but we have an opportunity to become Main Street America Accredited in 2023! Nationally accredited Main Streets have front-row access to additional grants and other funding, as well as workshops and general support that other Main Streets do not. There are just 14 nationally accredited Main Streets in the state of Indiana. Together, we can make Historic Downtown Kendallville (HDK) the fifteenth! On Friday, February 3, 2023, Main Street America staff will visit Kendallville to review and assess HDK's progress towards meeting the criteria to achieve national accreditation. They want to hear from you - the community and stakeholders - on a variety of topics. The agenda for the February 3rd meeting is shared below, as well as recommendations to help you determine which sessions you should attend. As you can see, HDK staff will not be in attendance at a majority of the sessions. This is to encourage you and other stakeholders to speak freely of your thoughts and observations of HDK. 10:00 am – 10:50: Broad-based community commitment to revitalization Attendance: City, Chamber, Tourism, Economic Development, College, Arts organization, other community non-profits, business, and property owners (No HDK staff present) 11:00 am – 11:50: Preservation-Based Economic Development Attendance: Board, City, Property owners (No HDK staff present) 1:00 pm – 1:50 Standard III: Diversified Funding and Sustainable Program Operations Attendance: Executive Board only (No HDK staff present) 2:00 pm – 2:50 Inclusive Leadership and Organizational Capacity Attendance: Board and Committee members (No HDK staff present) 3:00 pm – 3:50 Strategy-Driven Programming & Standard VI: Demonstrated Impact and Results Attendance: Board and Main Street Staff. Please RSVP at your earliest convenience by email to kendallvillemainstreet@gmail.com or phone to (260) 318-0883 to let us know when to expect your participation. We hope you can attend and help drive continuous improvement towards excellence!

Great things are happening in downtown Kendallville and the city's Main Street organization invites you to be a part of it! Historic Downtown Kendallville has released the 2022 Annual Report, highlighting Kendallville "by the numbers". Included in the report are statistics, testimonials, opportunities, accomplishments, 2023 work plans, 2023 events, and financial reports. Also included in the publication is a Business Investment Guide aimed at business attraction and expansion downtown.

The event scheduled for Saturday, March 18, 2023 has been cancelled. Contact Kristen at kendallvillemainstreet@gmail.com or (260) 318-0883 with questions. Thank you.

Historic Downtown Kendallville is excited to announce Shop Small Saturday deals at downtown merchants on Saturday, November 26. Enjoy great discounts, free gifts, and great food and restaurant offers when you Shop Small in Historic Downtown Kendallville. One day only! Don't miss out on the Shop Small Saturday Shopping Deals catalog just published - with deals good Saturday, November 26! Why Shop Small? For every dollar you spend locally, 68% stays right here in the Kendallville community! Support our local merchants this holiday shopping season - and SAVE!

Historic Downtown Kendallville is now accepting sponsorship orders to honor our "Hometown Heroes" on beautiful, full-color street banners. This new program is a great way to honor local veterans and first responders in the Kendallville community. Banner sponsorships are $125 each, with two choices of banner style. There are 26 street pole banner locations in the downtown corridor, so the supply is limited and orders will be accepted first come, first served until sold out. To honor a friend or loved one, please complete and mail in an order form with payment, or place your order, submit a photograph, and pay online. SOLD OUT! Banners will be displayed during the upcoming winter months (through Spring 2023). Contact us with any questions or for assistance at (260) 318-0883 or by email at kendallvillemainstreet@gmail.com.

The community is invited to two free workshops hosted by the Kendallville Public Library to learn how to make lanterns like those to be used in the city's first-ever Kendallville Lantern Parade happening on Friday, October 28 at 6 PM. All ages are welcomed to attend the free workshops being held on: Wednesday, October 19 from 5-7 PM Monday, October 24 from 5-7 PM

Kendallville’s Main Street organization has been known as “Experience the Heart of Kendallville” (EHK) for the past seven years. The transition to becoming a stand-alone 501(c)3 organization in May 2022 was followed up more recently by completing a process to bring a fresh look and feel that reflects feedback from the community and aligns with the organization’s objectives to revitalize and enhance the vibrancy of the downtown corridor. “Historic Downtown Kendallville” is the new name selected by the organization’s board of directors, a leadership team comprised of members of the community who represent a variety of demographics and perspectives and who share a passion for the transformational strategies developed to take Kendallville into the future. “Changing our name and logo has been in discussion by the board for a very long time. We needed a fresh new look to go along with the exciting new changes being made downtown,” explained Kristen Johnson, Kendallville’s Main Street Manager. “This spring, we went through a fairly rigorous rebranding process with the leadership and guidance of marketing professional, Lori Gagen. Lori is the owner of Catchy Creations LLC and she manages our website, among other things,” Johnson continued. “With her help, we were able to create a logo that reflects the vision for downtown Kendallville’s future while also creating a more modern and relevant digital presence that conveys a positive and harmonious message.” The new logo is an oval shape created by brightly colored curves that reflect an active, forward-moving community. The colors used mirror those of Indiana Main Street and Main Street USA to help define the organization’s mission and purpose. Both a modern, simple font, and a more classic cursive font are used in the name. A distinct representation of the lamp posts installed in 2021 help define the brand’s relationship to place and pay homage to the unique, historic features of the district. A heart, incorporated into the first letter of “Kendallville,” pays respect to the organization’s roots as the “Heart of Kendallville” and emote a bit of the district’s more modern, whimsical features. In addition to new branding, Historic Downtown Kendallville has also reviewed and updated the organization’s mission and vision statements. Those are featured on the updated website. “Our organization is growing rapidly and building great momentum and interest, and this new branding will help foster that momentum going forward,” added Tara Streb, Main Street President. Historic Downtown Kendallville has added several new board members since the city was named a PreservINg Main Street Pilot Community in late 2021. Those who support the economic development, design, organization and/or promotion of downtown Kendallville are encouraged to contact Johnson at kendallvillemainstreet@gmail.com to get involved. Find more information about upcoming events, the PreservINg Main Street project, and to subscribe to the organization’s blog for future updates at www.kendallvillemainstreet.com.

Kendallville recently launched an initiative to pay tribute and recognize the significant contributions of people, buildings, and products of Kendallville's past. The project was made possible by a $10,000 grant from Indiana Humanities. Visitors to Main Street in historic downtown Kendallville will now see a number of historical markers identifying noteworthy buildings and large window clings introducing many of the notable people who have historic ties to Kendallville. Each cling features a biography of the subject that paints a unique and interesting story. Historic Downtown Kendallville's humanities project team initially identified 21 individuals and six architectural sites to highlight on a walking tour of the Main Street corridor. Historic Markers - Architecture: 113 N Main Street - Alonso Anderson 132-136 S Main Street - John Mitchell 210-225 S Main Street - Spencer Opera House 201-203 S Main Street - Klinkenberg’s 101-105 S Main Street - Kelly Hotel 234 S Main Street – City Hall (National Register designation marker) Each historic marker provides date constructed and builder, the architectural style featured (if applicable), and other key information. Window clings feature the following people, with more expected to be added in the months ahead: Dr. Harold Urey, recipient of Nobel Prize for chemistry and NASA scientist Alvin M. Strauss, architect Arthur Franklin Mapes, Indiana Poet Laureate Gene Stratton-Porter, famous author and local business owner Amos Kendall, US Postmaster General William Mitchell, the “Father of Kendallville” John Mitchell, son of William; longtime banker and civic leader Simeon Flint and David Walling, founders of Flint & Walling Elmer McCray, founder of McCray Refrigeration Robert Klinkenberg, owner of Klinkenberg’s in business for 111 years Alonso Anderson, African-American builder of the “7 Sisters” buildings Cora Anderson, African-American woman who dressed as a man for employment Frank Shade, a "little person" and cigar shop owner Russel Frehse, local historian Laurence D Baker, Indiana State Representative Dick Cole, founder of the Cole Foundation Charles E Redman, US Ambassador to Sweden & Germany John DeCamp, the “Voice of Purdue” Chester Dekko, founder of the Dekko Foundation Ralph Atz, founder of Atz Ice Cream Herman Krueger, downtown builder/merchant Hiram Iddings, downtown builder/merchant In addition to the visual displays, the humanities project team has also designed a 36-page, full color Historic Downtown Kendallville Walking Tour guidebook that provides historic photos and in-depth historical accounts of Kendallville. Guidebooks are available for purchase for just $5 each. Points of interest have also been added to develop a Walking Tour on The Clio app, a free mobile application available for download for Android and Apple devices. The Clio app now serves as a permanent repository of local history that helps enthusiasts find self-guided walking tours all over the world. A variety of tours are available, each designed to appeal to one's own particular interests. For example, one local tour highlights the unique buildings and architecture in Kendallville; another can be used as a curriculum tool by schools and youth educators and will appeal to school-aged children. The first walking tours of Historic Downtown Kendallville were kicked off in June 2022 at an “Antiques Road Show” event. The event provided an opportunity for community members and history enthusiasts to come together to enjoy displays of antiques, photo albums, and see items manufactured in Kendallville and Noble County. During the event, the humanities project team hosted walking tours narrated by Terry Householder, a local historian and long-time newspaper publisher. The goal of the humanities project team is to provide the community a better working knowledge of the area's rich history while capturing the stories of yesteryear that make Kendallville special. In doing so, the team hopes to instill a sense of pride in the community and create an interesting, permanent learning adventure for all ages. The humanities project team members are: Terry Housholder, local author and historian Mike Mapes, local historian Amanda Blackman, local historian Alexis Wilson, local historian Kristen Johnson, Main Street Manager Julia Tipton, Community Learning Center Sam Opshal, Indiana Humanities

Come to Historic Downtown Kendallville for a free concert! On Saturday, July 23 we welcome Los Galaxy for a free community concert at the Pocket Park on Main Street. Come hungry! Common Grace Ministries will be selling porkburgers. Enjoy ice cream and smoothies from Hang 10 Desserts, too! This is a free community event for all ages, sponsored by Historic Downtown Kendallville and vendors.