Students from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs are joining with Spencer Main Street Incorporated, Owen County Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Corporation. Together, they will form the Spencer/Owen County Action Plan, according to a University press release.
Spencer is located 15 miles west of Bloomington and has a population ?of 2,300.
The city has seen its downtown start to fade, according to the release.
A large retail store moved downtown in 1987, and more stores moved to a more trafficked area ?of town.
Twenty-five years later, the downtown area has started to see revitalization, especially with the re-opening of the historic movie theater.
Around $4 million of the money for the projects at this time was donated by the Cook Foundation.
The new action plan is working on other initiatives to bring more life to the downtown area and improve the quality of life in the town, according to the press release.
“My vision for this plan is to give our community direction for our future and deliverables that we can use for marketing of a downtown revitalization plan,” community leader Mike Spinks said in the release. “I want everything ?for Spencer.”
Spinks has lived in Spencer for more than 30 years and holds various leadership positions in ?the town.
They will work with the town between now and the end of April to provide recommendations for the town and research ?opportunities.
The team is open to feedback from the community and is accepting comments through email at ?socactionplan@gmail.com
“I like the idea of helping a small town realize its potential,” participating SPEA student Laura Gambrel said in the press release. “I love the natural beauty of the area. I was born a Hoosier and have lived in the south-central part of the state for six years. I look forward to using my education to give back to such a wonderful community.”
Alison Graham
