New leadership takes helm at Discover Connersville Main Street as downtown plans advance

CONNERSVILLE — Discover Connersville Main Street is undergoing a leadership transition and working toward official state accreditation through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, according to an update delivered Wednesday evening at the Canal House museum during Historic Connersville’s regular monthly meeting.

Amanda Wolf, who previously served as vice president, has stepped into the role of board president after the former president stepped down from the position. Outlining the organization’s current direction, Wolf highlighted downtown revitalization, historic commercial building rehabilitation, and stronger collaboration among local civic bodies.

The independent 501(c)(3) organization works in direct coordination with the Fayette County Economic Development Group, with EDG’s Jerri Sparks serving as Main Street’s executive director. Discover Connersville has existed for more than two decades, but Wolf noted leadership is now actively restructuring the organization to satisfy formal Indiana Main Street and OCRA requirements, including bylaw approvals and documented board training sessions. Achieving state designation is intended to unlock larger public and state restoration grants, similar to recent revitalization efforts in Brookville.

Roughly a year ago, Discover Connersville expanded its downtown boundaries beyond the immediate main drag. The official district now spans from 2nd Street to 9th Street and extends east to west between Eastern Avenue and Grand and Western avenues, covering both sides of boundary streets and incorporating 2nd Street Park.

A central preservation project underway involves a partnership with Ball State University. Architecture and engineering students from the university were selected through a state grant—which Wolf estimated at roughly 15,000 dollars—to work with three local downtown property owners. The students will draft blueprints and restoration designs tailored to property owner preferences. One of the three designated sites confirmed for the program is the downtown building housing John’s Brothers.

Once structural plans are completed, Discover Connersville and EDG plan to help owners secure historic restoration grants and loans. The organization currently maintains an active revolving loan fund with four local participants at a 3 percent interest rate, in addition to fully lent funds previously secured through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Discover Connersville also continues to support the Oasis community park as its core ongoing physical project. Moving forward, the board is evaluating its calendar, considering another casino night fundraiser in late winter following last year’s event for the community fireworks, as well as exploring a possible new fall event to bridge the seasonal gap between Celebration in the Ville, the 4th of July, and Winterfest.

During the meeting, Historic Connersville board members offered to assist the Ball State architectural initiative by opening the museum’s extensive photographic archives, providing historical reference images of downtown storefronts to aid students and property owners in accurate restorations.

Discover Connersville Main Street holds its regular board meetings on the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the EDG building.