A $5,000 grant from the state will give Crawfordsville Main Street a boost with the day-to-day expenses of promoting the city’s historic downtown.
Crawfordsville was one of 40 Indiana Main Street organizations awarded funding through a new initiative to provide operational support amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced Monday.
The funds may be used for software upgrades and staff and board training, program manager Sue Lucas said.
“We want to invest these grant funds into efforts that will help better serve the downtown [and] the small businesses that occupy it,” she said.
Like other businesses and nonprofit groups, Crawfordsville Main Street was forced to scale back the year’s budget as the pandemic set in. Programs had to be modified or canceled because of social distancing.
Sponsors and members also helped the organization with operational funding, Lucas said.
The state awarded a total $200,000 through the Taking Care of Main Street program. Attica Main Street received funds it will use for board insurance, promotional materials, billboards, Facebook advertising and website maintenance.
Other Main Street organizations will put their money toward searching for an executive director, covering salaries and community enhancement projects.
