The annual meeting of Crawfordsville Main Street members was conducted earlier this week at the Masonic Cornerstone, with refreshments provided by Maxine’s on Green. President Steve McLaughlin opened the meeting by welcoming guests and presenting the 2022 meeting minutes and financial report to members for a vote. The 2023 CMS board roster was announced with all 2022 members remaining except Karen Thada, who retired from the board at the end of the year. Thada’s dedication to the organization was recognized. Casey Hockersmith replaces Thada. Hockersmith introduced herself to the members.
CMS program manager Sue Lucas gave a 2022 progress report. The organization added 16 new members and eight new business members. Lunch on the Plaza celebrated its 20th anniversary.
The First Fridays at Pike Place were hugely successful and well-attended by the community. CMS volunteers dedicated 3,655 hours of service to the city. These hours of service represent a $97,908 value to the community. Lucas said people come to our community because it is “vibrant and real.”
Two guest speakers, Sarah Froderman and Abigail Chapman, were introduced from the statewide Indiana Main Street Program. The Indiana Main Street Program works to revitalize downtown commercial districts built around a community’s heritage and attributes. Froderman said, “Crawfordsville is an amazing place, and people around the state are recognizing that.”
Chapman added that the accreditation Crawfordsville has achieved makes a difference in the community and the state.
Most of the evening was spent unveiling two exciting projects and one grant opportunity.
The Alley Activation project will capitalize on the Main Street alley mural across from the courthouse and create a gathering place for residents. HWC Engineering has designed an enhanced entrance to the closed area with
overhead lighting and seating options.
Tom Fansler, Tiii Environments, proposed the new design for the Marie Canine Plaza fountain upgrade.
The new fountain is constructed of sturdier materials and fixtures for better durability and water quality. The project will also include new landscaping and location of the donor plaques. An original emblem from the Crawford Hotel will be featured as part of the fountain. The estimated costs are approximately $ 375,000, but will be reduced by volunteer work and local resources. Grant money is already set aside in the amount of $205,000. A campaign for corporate and personal donations will be needed to complete the work. McLaughlin said the goal is to finish it in 2023.
Board member Erin Azar unveiled the new Architecture and Engineering Conditions Assessment Grant. The grant will give funds to property owners within the Crawfordsville Commercial Historic District to assess conditions and integrity for restoration. The grant is part of the strategic use of funds the City of Crawfordsville uses in the Phase 1 allocation of money received from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The federally funded ARPA program assists in small-town recovery.
In addition, the grant will not cover any construction costs. Once the assessment is complete, CMA and preservation partners can help find the money for the rehabilitation work. Currently, the grant has $100,00 available to applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Applications will open Feb. 1. Details and requirements can be found at www.crawfordsvillemainstreet.com/ae-grant.
