OCRA welcomes Winamac into Indiana Main Street Program

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Published: Wednesday, 16 November 2016 22:22

INDIANAPOLIS – Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) have announced the Town of Winamac as the newest member of the Indiana Main Street (IMS) Program.

The program encourages economic development, redevelopment and improvement to the downtown areas in Indiana cities and towns.

A Main Street Indiana official welcomes "Wander Our Winamac" board members Ryan Harrison, Melanie Berger, Theresa Calloway, Nathan Origer and Brad Zellers into the state program.

“The goal of the Main Street program is to ensure that communities have the necessary resources and support to revitalize and restore their downtowns,” said Lt. Gov. Holcomb. “By earning this designation, Winamac will have the support it needs to enhance the quality of place in their downtown.”

"Wander Our Winamac" (WOW) is of a group of community members dedicated to building a vibrant downtown by providing social, commercial and recreational opportunities through supporting events and programs strengthening their community’s quality of life. The organization has four committees, Organization, Design, Promotion and Economic Vitality, each with designated committee members as well as clearly stated purposes, objectives and goals.

“This Main Street designation means a lot to Wander Our Winamac,” said Town Manager Brad Zellers. “With this designation, the organization is looking forward to rebuilding our downtown to attract businesses and bring the business owners together. Winamac is ready to move forward and grow as a community.”         

The Main Street Program, administered by OCRA, is founded on a four-point approach to downtown development: organization, design, promotion and economic vitality. Winamac, along with 121 other Indiana Main Street communities, work towards these four aspects of their downtowns in order to focus on restoration and revitalization efforts within their communities.

For more information on the Indiana Main Street Program, please visit http://www.in.gov/ocra/mainstreet.htm.

About Wander Our Winamac (WOW)

The mission statement of Wander Our Winamac is to build a vibrant downtown by providing social, commercial and recreational opportunities through supporting events and programs strengthening their community’s quality of life.

The organization is filing for 501(c)3 for not-for-profit status. Currently it is operating under umbrella status through the Pulaski County Historical Society.

Winamac Clerk/Treasurer Melanie Berger serves as president of WOW, and Town Manager Brad Zellers is vice president. Secretary is Nathan Origer and treasurer is Ryan Harrison. Board members are Tina Pesaresi, Alex Haschel and Theresa Calloway. Over a dozen additional people are members of WOW committees.

The organization committee, chaired by Berger, is the foundation of the Main Street program and will be responsible for overseeing all the committees and the operations of the program. The organization committee will manage the financial and logistical aspects of WOW.

The design committee, chaired by Zellers, will oversee the shaping of the physical appearance and the image of downtown to the shoppers, business owners, investors and visitors. As the visual component of Main Street, this program is very vital to the success of WOW.

The promotion committee, chaired by Pesaresi, notes that downtown is the center of commerce, culture and community life for residents and visitors. The committee will promote the downtown, enticing people to shop and visit WOW.

The economic vitality committee, chaired by Origer, will identify market opportunities for the traditional commercial district, find new uses for historic commercial buildings, and stimulate investment in property. This committee will work with existing businesses in retaining them in the downtown.

WOW conducted a survey of Winamac residents in October, asking questions such as, "What improvements or future projects would you like to see downtown?" "What are the greatest barriers to doing business downtown?" "What type of events would you like to see happen downtown?"

The WOW board acknowledges that success of the organization will also be advanced by community support and understanding of the Main Street project and its goals. Keep up-to-date with WOW on its Facebook page.

Those interested may also support WOW with a membership to the organization as follows:

• Founding Member - $200. Accepted through Dec. 31, 2016. Includes lifetime recognition as a founding member.
• Corporate Member - $100. Business located in the WOW downtown program area.
• Individual Member - $75. Individuals residing in the WOW downtown program area.
• Corporate Friend - $75. Business located outside the WOW downtown program area.
• Individual Friend - $50. Individuals residing outside the WOW downtown program area.