Columbus, Ohio – Heritage Ohio, Inc. announced Tiffin has been selected as the newest community to join the Ohio Main Street Program. Tiffin has been participating in Heritage Ohio’s Downtown Affiliate Program, building the capacity needed to be successful in revitalizing downtown. The Seneca Industrial & Economic Development Corporation hosted a seven member selection committee on December 10. During the community review process SIEDC, the Tiffin Historic Trust, and various individuals and committee members had the opportunity to present their program of work as well as answer questions put forth by the selection committee. Tiffin will join an elite group of 23 additional communities dedicated to a comprehensive and highly successful trademarked Main Street revitalization strategy. Current Ohio Main Street Programs include: Cambridge, Chardon, Defiance, Delaware, Findlay, Greenville, Warehouse District (Cleveland), Gateway Neighborhood (Cleveland), Kent, Lakewood, Lebanon, Marietta, Medina, Millersburg, Mt. Vernon, Norwalk, Painesville, Piqua, Portsmouth, Sandusky, Troy, Van Wert, Vermillion, Wooster,). Main Street communities receive intensive training and technical support needed to restore their central and neighborhood business districts to centers of community activity and commerce. The assistance includes volunteer and program manager training, marketing and promotion, business recruitment, market analysis, design, historic preservation and fundraising. The Heritage Ohio Main Street Program will also conduct on-site visits to help each community develop its work program and plan for success. “Tiffin has demonstrated a local commitment to establishing a downtown revitalization program as well as a very impressive partnership between the city, county, industry and colleges,” commented Joyce Barrett, Director of Heritage Ohio. SIEDC is planning an event for the public announcement. The Heritage Ohio Main Street Program is modeled on the National Main Street Center’s comprehensive approach to downtown revitalization. Benefits of this program include renewed vitality of the downtown/district area along with enhanced economic performance. Today, the Main Street Program has been instituted in 43 states and over 2,050 communities. Nationwide, it has helped create 473,439 net new jobs and opened 109,664 net new businesses creating a total reinvestment of over $55 billion. Heritage Ohio began, as Downtown Ohio, Inc., organized in 1989 is a statewide non-profit corporation that encourages the development, redevelopment and improvement of downtowns and neighborhood commercial district areas throughout Ohio. Heritage Ohio works as a catalyst for downtown and neighborhood district development by gathering together revitalization organizations, conducting statewide seminars and conferences and providing a network of members to share knowledge, common experiences and challenges concerning downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. Heritage Ohio is dedicated to assisting self-motivated communities through technical assistance, training and networking in all facets of downtown and commercial district development. Heritage Ohio advocates for revitalization and historic preservation issues at the state and federal levels. Additionally, the organization publishes Revitalize Ohio, a quarterly statewide preservation/revitalization magazine. Membership in Heritage Ohio is available to any community, organization, corporation or individual interested in comprehensive downtown or commercial district revitalization. For more information regarding the Heritage Ohio Main Street Program or assistance available to communities contact Heritage Ohio at 614.258.6200 or visit www.heritageohio.org.