Main Street INspire Idea! Competition Seeks Entries

Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs are now accepting applications from Indiana Main Street organizations who have inspiring and imaginative downtown revitalization projects in their community. The goal of the Main Street INspire Idea! competition is to encourage creative projects for the benefit of their communities.

AWARD:  $5,000 (two awarded)

ELIGIBILITY:  Active members of the Indiana Main Street Network

DEADLINE:  Friday, June 28, 2019

Any active Indiana Main Street community is eligible for the two $5,000 minimum prizes, which will be distributed at the Great Lakes Main Street Conference. Finalists will receive two free conference registrations where they will present their projects during one of the sessions. Presenters may represent a Main Street organization or community, but only one person can present.

All submissions will be reviewed and five finalists will be announced on Friday, July 12, 2019.

The submitted projects should:

• Connect to the community’s vision to create vibrant, people-centered places to live, work and invest;
• Support at least one of the four key points Main Street programs have been using as a guiding framework for nearly 40 years: economic vitality, effective promotion, quality design and sustainable organization; and
• Focus on highly visible changes, measuring progress and results that will demonstrate the revitalization effort is successful.

Potential project ideas can include, but are not limited to:

• Design and place-making projects
• Destination development
• Entrepreneur support programs
• Buy local and extended store hours programs
• Small Business Training
• Storefront Display Enhancements
• Store Inventory Resets

WHAT TO SUBMIT

1. Project budget
2. Project description with connection to community's goals
3. Outcomes and intended impact of project
4. Supporting documents (photos, maps, designs, etc.)--submit as ONE FILE

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online by 4 p.m. ET, Friday, June 28, 2019.

QUESTIONS?  Email mshaw2@ocra.in.gov