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Springfield Main Street Program

124 West Main Street
Springfield, KY 40069
859-336-5412 ext. 1

The City of Springfield is proud to have a certified Kentucky Main Street Program recognized on both the national and state level.  Springfield’s program works closely with the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s premier preservation agency, the Kentucky Heritage Council.  Our city’s “connection” to the Heritage Council has enabled us to use their resources (i.e. architects, preservation specialists, grants for preservation projects) to fulfill the program’s primary goal to preserve our historic Main Street while also keeping the downtown corridor as a vital commerce center with affordable, nice housing.

Some of the accomplishments made by Springfield’s Main Street Program since 2000 are:

  • Renovation of the 1900 Opera House. The 1.6 million projects spurred much development in the downtown corridor including a number of restaurants, businesses and building improvements.
  • Assist in the promotion and development of children’s theatre and theatre classes.
  • Organize annual Main Street events (Spring Crafters’ Market, Street Week, Independence Day, African American Heritage Festival, Christmas Crafters’ Market, Christmas Parade, & more!)
  • Promote the coordination of city, county and state officials in meetings and dialogue to keep the Judicial Center in the downtown corridor.
  • Write and expend grants made available through the Kentucky Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.  Main Street/Renaissance assisted in writing and administering grants for Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial projects, secured partial funding for renovation of the 1816 Courthouse and artifacts for the Lincoln Legacy Museum.
  • Partner with Preservation Kentucky (RHDI), Washington County Fiscal Court and the Lincoln Byway Advisory Committee to implement the National Lincoln Scenic Byway from Danville to Hodgenville that includes Springfield’s Main Street corridor.
  • Partner with Washington County Historical Society, University of Kentucky and Kentucky Heritage Council in the application to enlarge the Main Street Historic District significantly.  In 2010-2011, over 235 structures were surveyed and nominated for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.  The enlarged corridor was added to the National Register in 2011.
  • Partner with Washington County Schools to develop Young Ambassadors Program to train students to be “ambassadors” for our community and learn our local heritage and history.
  • Keep annual statistics on downtown development for local, state and national agencies.

Since 2002 the downtown business district has seen over 2.5 million dollars invested in capital improvements.  Springfield Main Street has received numerous awards from the Commonwealth of Kentucky including “Best Design” for The Louisville Store Building, “Best Partner Award” for our partnership with St. Catharine College and “Best Organization Award” for our Young Ambassadors Program.

Springfield’s Main Street Program follows the 4-point approach advocated by National Main Street and is a volunteer driven program that is committed to promoting downtown economic vitality and development and preservation of the historic fabric of our downtown corridor.

Main Street Director: Jill Reed

Our volunteers are:

Main Street Board:  Daniel Carney (Chairperson), Nell Haydon (Vice Chairperson), Anne Mudd, Mary Carey, Brandon Wilson, AnnMarie Lloyd, Joann Mudd Miller

Promotions Committee:   Margaret Goatley, Maegan Purdom, Lora Justice, Susan Neal

Economic Vitality Committee:  Daniel Carney (Chairperson), Joe Lee Mattingly

Organization Committee:  Nell Haydon (Chairperson), Whitney Wurzel

Design Committee:  Mary Carey (Chairperson), Lora Justice, Lydia Smith, Susan Simpson

For more information about the Main Street Program, including incentives for existing and potential downtown businesses, contact Main Street Director Jill Reed at 124 West Main Street, in the Springfield Opera House, telephone (859) 336 5412 ext. 1 or e-mail [email protected]

 

 

 

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