The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) announced that Our Town Cicero has been designated as an Indiana Main Street (IMS) community. The designation was announced by OCRA representatives at a special open house ceremony hosted by Our Town Cicero on Tuesday, September 29th at 10 West. The IMS program encourages economic development, redevelopment and improvement to the downtown areas of Indiana’s cities and towns.
“We are excited to be a part of the Indiana Main Street program and look forward to participating more in the programming available to assist our community in our downtown revitalization efforts,” said board president, Brett Morrow. “We are working with great partners in developing project ideas and plans for the remainder of 2015 and into 2016. There are numerous volunteer opportunities for any business or individual who may be interested in helping Our Town Cicero make downtown Cicero a destination.”
Our Town Cicero is a community organization dedicated to strengthening the vibrancy of downtown by promoting local businesses and partnerships so all may visit, eat, play, and live. Our Town Cicero joins more than 115 other Indiana Main Street communities dedicated to the revitalization of their downtown areas. The IMS is founded on a Four Point Approach to downtown development: organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring. Each of these points represents an aspect of the downtown which is vital in the restoration efforts of the community. The IMS is administered by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.
Indiana Main Street Program Manager Shae Kmicikewycz stated, “We are happy to have Our Town Cicero as part of the Indiana Main Street family. The members of the community and Town of Cicero are very supportive of the organization’s revitalization efforts and understand the importance of a thriving downtown. We are proud of Cicero and welcome them to the Indiana Main Street Program.”