MSVW earns back national certification

VW independent/Heritage Ohio

Heritage Ohio is proud to announce the 2014 certification of Van Wert as a national Main Street community.

Van Wert became a member of the Main Street program in 2004, but lost the designation five years later when the recession that began in 2008 forced budget Van Wert city and county governments to cut funding to Main Street Van Wert.

The budget cuts also resulted in downsizing the Main Street Van Wert program and downgrading the program manager’s position from full-time to part-time. Doing so, though, resulted in the loss of certification from Heritage Ohio, the organization that oversees Main Street programs in Ohio.

As the economy has improved, however, funding has gradually been restored to Main Street Van Wert, and current Program Manager Adam Ries was also recently made a full-time employee again.

Under Heritage Ohio’s certification process, Main Street Van Wert is being recognized as proficient in the 10 criteria set by the National Main Street Center.

“This designation is a testament to the hard work and commitment of the Main Street Van Wert Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers,” said a release sent out by Heritage Ohio announcing the local program’s recertification.

In addition, having national certification also makes it easier to receive grants and other public and private funding.

Main Street has seen a number of positives over the past year. In 2013, the organization saw eight new businesses open downtown, which helped create a net increase of 13 new jobs for the local economy. Building improvements for 2013 were valued in excess of $1.3 million.

Heritage Ohio helps people to save the places that matter, build community, and live better. As Ohio’s official historic preservation and Main Street Organization, Heritage Ohio’s mission is to foster economic development and sustainability through preservation of historic buildings, revitalization of downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts, and promotion of cultural tourism.

Since 1998, Heritage Ohio has contracted with the National Trust for Historic Preservation as Ohio’s state coordinating agency for the Main Street Program™. Learn more at www.HeritageOhio.org.