Becoming a Main Street
Welcome to the Indiana Main Street Application Process. We are very excited that your community is considering Indiana Main Street as a resource to help revitalize your historic downtown commercial district!
Get started here:
- Review What is Indiana Main Street to gain an understanding of the program and its benefits.
- Contact your region’s Community Liaison (CL) from our Office of Community and Rural Affairs for an introduction to Indiana Main Street and an intent to apply (if applicable). The list of Community Liaisons can be found on this webpage.
2024 – 2025 Application Process
New communities interested in applying to become an Indiana Main Street (IMS) community will apply for the OCRA’s Downtown Affiliate Network (ODAN) level. This is the starting level for all new communities. Communities that may have been an IMS community in the past and are looking to return, will also apply for the ODAN level.
Existing ODAN communities can apply for the Aspiring IAMS 1-year Program if they’ve been an ODAN for at least one full year.
Existing Aspiring Indiana Main Street (Aspiring-IAMS) communities looking to graduate to Indiana Main Street (IAMS) communities will go through their accreditation visit in February 2025. Current Aspiring-IAMS are the only communities eligible.
Existing Indiana Accredited Main Street (IAMS) communities looking to graduate to Nationally Accredited Main Street (NAMS) will go through their accreditation visit in November 2024. Current IAMS that submitted their Main Street America self-assessment with their 2023 reporting are the only communities eligible.
If you have any questions, please contact your Community Liaison.
- ODAN Level Application Process:
Applicants interested in becoming a member of OCRA’s Downtown Affiliate Network (ODAN) are qualified as those working to build capacity to execute the Main Street Four Point Approach, or groups who prefer to specialize in event-related activities only. Members of ODAN may also be those who are working the Main Street Four Point Approach but do not meet the qualification for OCRA’s definition of Historic Preservation Ethic and/or Fabric.
- Aspiring IAMS 1-Year Program:
Applicants interested in participating in the Aspiring IAMS 1-year Program are qualified as those with capacity or working to build capacity to execute the Main Street Four Point Approach, Baseline Requirements and Indiana Accredited Main Street Standards. They must be a current member of OCRA’s Downtown Affiliate Network (ODAN).
- Click here for the Aspiring IAMS 1-year Program 2024-2025.
- Click here for the Aspiring IAMS Baseline Requirements, Accreditation standards, and Self-Assessment Tool.
- Click here for the Aspiring IAMS Letter of Intent to Apply.
- Click here for the Aspiring IAMS self-scoring worksheet.
- Click here for the Aspiring IAMS application.
- Click here for sample documents that can assist in the application process (these documents should only be used as guides).
- Indiana Accredited Main Street Program:
Applicants interested in participating IAMS Program are qualified as those with capacity to execute the Main Street Four Point Approach, Baseline Requirements and Indiana Accredited Main Street Standards. They must be a current member of the Aspiring IAMS program.
- Nationally Accredited Main Street Program:
Applicants interested in participating NAMS Program are qualified as those with capacity to execute the Main Street Four Point Approach, Baseline Requirements and Nationally Accredited Main Street Standards. They must be a current IAMS program and have submitted their self-assessment with their most recent annual reporting.
Main Street Ready
This technical assistance program seeks to assist communities to set strategic priorities for downtown revitalization based on the community’s vision for downtown.
Prior to participating in Main Street Ready, the community must attend an Indiana Main Street 101 within 12 months of applying or be a current OCRA Downtown Affiliated Network community. ODAN communities must indicate a desire to level-up within the Indiana Main Street program in their annual reporting prior to applying to be eligible.
Main Street Ready is offered by OCRA community liaisons and Indiana Main Street staff.
Main Street Ready includes the following steps:
- Online Community Survey – Gather input from stakeholders about the state of your downtown.
- Document Review – Community will send information like downtown business list, planning documents and organizational documents to their Community Liaison and Indiana Main Street program manager.
- On-Site Community Visit – Indiana Main Street and your community liaison will do a walking assessment of the downtown and conduct interviews throughout the day with various community partners.
- Final Report – Four weeks after the visit, the community will receive a report with the survey results, community data and recommendations for the community as they pursue downtown improvement activities.
*Prior to requesting this technical assistance visit, a community would need to attend a Main Street 101 meeting.
To request Main Street Ready technical assistance, please reach out to your community liaison or email indianamainstreet@ocra.in.gov.