What’s the HBGDC?
The group began in 2005, when nine Battle Ground residents and business owners gathered to discuss the decline of our block-long Main Street. We are joining with other organizations to create a plan of action, find funding, and encourage our town council and fellow citizens. The HBGDC gained not-for-profit status in 2007. We are also a member of the Historic Landmarks Foundation.Mission
Our mission is to revitalize downtown Historic Battle Ground by attracting more viable small businesses and visitors while preserving its historic character.Goals
We will create and put into action a comprehensive plan for economic development and revitalization of the town. Downtown business owners are one of the main forces behind this revitalization effort. We plan to invite residents, business owners, and park staff to community meetings to discuss Battle Ground's strengths, weakness, and opportunities. HBGDC will listen to and work with those groups as we focus on the part Battle Ground can play in Indiana's future.We want to invigorate what could become a very charming historic downtown destination centrally located between three parks, many historic sites, and many local attractions. We'll link that kick-off to the celebrations of the 175th birthday of Harrisonville and the 150th birthday of Battle Ground City, the two towns that eventually became Battle Ground. The community will hold a celebration on August 9, 2008.
The Challenge We Face
One of Battle Ground's most impressive advantages is that state and county parks border it on the east and south and Wolf Park borders the north. The Battlefield is a historic site of national significance, and the area offers many opportunities for canoeing and hiking. These benefits also poses a challenge:
How can we draw visitors from these local attractions into our town?Because we don't want to depend solely on revenue from seasonal park and recreation traffic, we see additional challenges:
• How can we attract local people to support businesses in Battle Ground?
• How could we attract businesses successful enough to provide local employment opportunities?Because revitalization of the town will take more than the efforts of the few people on the HBGDC, another challenge we face is getting more residents and neighborhoods involved. We believe that once other residents and businesses see what our group accomplishes with this initial project, more people will participate in future projects. This, in turn, will build pride in our community and may even inspire others to address other local concerns.
What can you contribute?
Downtown Battle Ground is the heart of our community – the site of government, arts, churches, and businesses. It’s an important community space. Join us as we plan, look for funding, and work to revitalize our downtown.Come back to this site for more information in the future. Watch for meeting times posted at the Battle Ground Post Office. And join us!
If you want to support us, but have don’t have time to work on a committee, you can send a tax-deductible donation to: HBGDC, P.O. Box 131, Battle Ground, IN 47920. HBGDC dues are $10 per year.
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