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The public is invited to a free keynote presentation with Eric Doden and Chris Mead at the historic Strand Theater on Thursday, June 16 from 4:30 to 5:30 PM.

Experience the Heart of Kendallville (EHK), the city's Main Street organization, has been awarded a non-matching grant by the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) for a new public art project. Winners in 34 counties across the state were announced on May 9. The IDDC press release indicates the funded public art projects will "tell a community's unique story" to help engage first-time visitors and build local pride. Kristen Johnson, Main Street Manager, confirms that Chris Lesley, the artist who produced the mural in the city's new downtown pocket park, will create another one on the side of the Atz Law building facing Williams Street. Early concepts discussed include spelling out "Kendallville" with letters filled in with graphics depicting notable Kendallville people, places, and things. Similar murals are seen in cities across the nation and are often the backdrop for traveler photos. Southbound traffic on Main Street will be able to enjoy good visibility of the new art piece when complete. EHK was awarded $3,975, which will fully fund the art project. The IDDC awarded a total of $242,000 to projects across the state for similar efforts in other communities and believe the effort will further promote Indiana as a destination for travelers.

Indiana and National Main Street representatives will be in Kendallville on June 9 and 10 to help guide the city's development of Transformational Strategies. Experience the Heart of Kendallville is asking all stakeholders, including property and business owners, residents, and visitors from near and far, to participate in a brief survey to help inform discussions that will take place during the meetings. Please participate here:

The past eight months, since Kendallville was named a PreservINg Main Street Pilot Community, has been a whirlwind of activity with leaders of Experience the Heart of Kendallville (EHK), city officials, volunteers, and stakeholders engaged in a tremendous learning curve. As is the nature of a "Pilot" program, some of the information shared at the beginning of the program to today has morphed along the way and more information became available and state officials worked through terms and conditions associated with funding, which is made possible by a number of collaborating partners. In an effort to bring all stakeholders back together around the most up-to-date information available regarding efforts to invest $2 million to preserve and transform historic downtown Kendallville, a meeting has been scheduled. The meeting will be hosted by EHK and is open to all downtown merchants, property owners, and the public: Main Street Community Meeting Thursday, May 19 5:30 PM Council Chamber, City Hall This meeting is an opportunity to receive clarification on any previous information shared and discussed and to ask questions about the PreservINg Main Street grant and related programs and projects. For more information, call EHK at (260) 318-0883.

Downtown Kendallville's first-ever Antiques Road Show is just the beginning of a project the Humanities Committee of Experience the Heart of Kendallville (EHK) hopes will highlight Kendallville's historic buildings, products, and people for many years to come. In a grant proposal submitted by EHK seeking $10,000 from Indiana Humanities, one of the supporting partners in the PreservINg Main Street program, plans are outlined to add multiple historic markers identifying noteworthy architecture of several buildings along Main Street, large format window clings featuring prominent Kendallville figures, an initial printing of 500 booklets to accompany self-guided walking tours, and the development of a mobile app offering a menu of walking tour options as well. The committee's proposal explained a mobile app called "Clio" will be used as a sort of permanent repository of Kendallville history. The app is described as a tool for residents and visitors to enjoy self-guided walking tours and is expected to be available for use later this summer. The upcoming Kendallville Antiques Road Show will mark the kick-off of EHK's celebration of local history and will take place from 12 noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 11 on Main Street. Community members, historians, and others are invited to bring and exhibit Kendallville-related antiques including products made in Kendallville and Noble County. Food, drinks, and historic walking tours narrated by Terry Household, local historian, will also be available for the public to enjoy. EHK Humanities Committee members: Amanda Blackman Terry Householder Kristen Johnson Mike Mapes Sam Opshal Julia Tipton Alexis Wilson For more information, contact a committee member or call the Main Street office at (260) 318-0883.

Please join Brightpoint and Experience the Heart of Kendallville for a special, free workshop on May 11, 2022 to learn about available resources for your business, including small business development loans. The workshop will be held at the Community Learning Center at 401 E Diamond Street in Kendallville from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. The public is welcomed!

The Kendallville Redevelopment Commission has opened applications for a new PreservINg Main Street Matching Grant Program designed to enhance efforts to improve the aesthetic appearance and preservation of historic properties in Kendallville's downtown corridor. Grant awards of up to $50,000 per property may be awarded for façade improvements with up to 75% of costs to be reimbursed. Uses of funding are those deemed eligible under the PreservINg Main Street grant guidelines issued by the Office of Rural and Community Affairs (OCRA). A total of $300,000 has been set aside for this special program. The offer expires when all funds have been distributed, or on November 1, 2023, whichever comes first. In an opening paragraph of the new grant Guidelines, the RDC explains: "The PreservINg Main Street Matching Grant Program is designed to encourage both business and building owners to improve the aesthetic appearance of their historical Kendallville building façade in an effort to help stimulate commerce and enhance the overall business environment of the downtown's historic corridor. Grant requests are reviewed monthly by the Historic Preservation Commission for appropriateness before review by the RDC at their regularly scheduled meetings (generally the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 8:00am at City Hall). Those businesses requesting a grant are strongly encouraged to either attend the meeting or have a duly appointed representative available (in person, by phone, or via another method) to answer questions about the request that may impact the decision of the RDC. Attached herein are program guidelines for your review, as well as the application."

It's back! Experience the Heart of Kendallville is excited to announce the return of the Fairy, Gnome & Troll Festival to Main Street on Saturday, May 1 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. All ages will enjoy this magical, free event featuring live entertainment, activities for children of all ages, hands-on crafts and games, food and drinks, lots and lots of vendors, and more! Questions? Contact Kristen Johnson at (260) 318-0883 or kendallvillemainstreet@gmail.com.

Join us downtown for the official Ribbon Cutting and Celebration of Kendallville's new pocket park on Main Street! The City of Kendallville and Experience the Heart of Kendallville are bringing live music with Autumn Grey, plus food by Hang 10 Tropical Desserts and Street Tacos to the Pocket Park across from City Hall to celebrate with an official ribbon cutting on downtown's newest gathering place! The Ribbon Cutting and Celebration will take place on Saturday, April 30 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at the park. Bring the family and explore and enjoy Main Street!

Indiana Humanities is hosting a 9-city film tour featuring six short documentary films about Indiana's waterways. The tour comes to Kendallville in April. These films, developed in conjunction with Indiana Humanities' environmental humanities theme, Unearthed, tell stories from across the state of Hoosiers and their diverse relationships with water. From the efforts to reintroduce the hellbender salamander, to the fading art of netmaking, the films explore issues of access and conservation, as well as the unique cultures that spring up around Indiana's waterways. The Kendallville screening will take place at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, April 20 at Strand Theatre, 221 S Main Street. Doors will open at 6:00 PM and screenings run from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. The event is free and open to the public and will include a brief intermission and complimentary snacks and drinks. Beer from Metazoa Brewing will be available for those 21 years of age and older. Click the button below for tickets and for more information.

The public is invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the McCray Solar Power Generation Project. "This project has turned what was an environmental brownfield and visual eyesore into a green, beautiful site," explained Mayor W. SuzAnne Handshoe in an invitation to the community issued by the City of Kendallville. The new solar field, located at the former McCray Refrigeration plant, 205 W Wayne Street in downtown Kendallville, will not only provide clean, renewable energy to power the city's wastewater treatment plant, but also save taxpayers significant dollars for years to come, according to the announcement. "The City of Kendallville deeply appreciates that both the Local Development Corporation and Redevelopment Commission recognized this project for the tremendous opportunity it represented in changing the narrative of what economic development can truly be," continued Handshoe. The ribbon-cutting will take place on Wednesday, April 20 at 10:30 a.m. at the site. The public is invited. The announcement included the following agenda: Welcome by Mayor W. SuzAnne Handshoe Project overview by Eric Hesher, owner of Renewable Energy Systems Guest speaker Brian C. Rockensuess, Commissioner, Indiana Department of Environmental Management Guest speaker Sue Glick, State Senator District 13 Guest speaker David Abbott, Indiana District 82 Guest speaker Gary Gatman, Executive Director, Be Noble Inc. (LEDO) Guest speaker Brian Walter, Senior Pastor, South Milford Church of Christ Ribbon cutting

Hosler Realty, The Strand Theatre, Whatchamacakes, and The Pizza Forum are coming together for an Easter Egg Hunt on Main Street! Enjoy this free community event at Hosier Realty, 106 S Main Street, on Saturday, April 19 at 1:00 PM. Kids will be able to search throughout the building to find golden eggs with great prizes inside! This is a free event! For more information, contact Hosler Realty.