Will new group revitalize downtown? Main Street Barberton organizers talk about mission

Alan Ashworth, Akron Beacon Journal
·2 min read

What’s so different about the new organization started Jan. 3 that hopes to pump new life into Barberton’s downtown?

A lot, say Main Street Barberton board President Denny Liddle and design committee Chairman Ted Herncane.

Starting with the scope of MSB.

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In a Feb. 28 phone interview, Liddle and Herncane said Main Street Barberton, unlike the city and Barberton Community Foundation, will be able to concentrate solely on downtown.

“The Main Street program is all encompassing,” Liddle said. “It’s not the city looking at exterior maintenance. It’s an organization that (covers) every aspect of reorganizing downtown.”

Where will Main Street Barberton be located?

“We have a couple of options we are looking at at this point,” Liddle said.

MSB will also hire an executive director to coordinate its various programs.

Frances Jo Hamilton, director of revitalization with Heritage Ohio, introduces the Main Street program April 26, 2022, at the YMCA Active Adult Center in Barberton.
Frances Jo Hamilton, director of revitalization with Heritage Ohio, introduces the Main Street program April 26, 2022, at the YMCA Active Adult Center in Barberton.

Liddle said the board is working on both right now and hopes to have its director and offices in April.

“We just advertised for an executive director this past week,” he said. “We’re taking applications through March.”

What will happen to the Barberton Labor Day BBQ and Music Fest?

Liddle said he expects the event to be run by Main Street Barberton in 2024.

Other events could come as the new organization takes root.

Main Street Wadsworth, for instance, has received widespread attention with its annual Scare on the Square featuring Wadsworth Thriller, zombies dancing to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" soundtrack. The Wadsworth group also recently brought a live wrestling show downtown. The two cities have about the same number of residents.

More:Wadsworth getting ready to rumble with live wrestling promotion downtown

“The benefit to the citizens will be a more vibrant downtown,” said Herncane.

Won’t this cost money?

Yes.

For the first three years of MSB's existence, the city and the Barberton City Foundation each will kick in $50,000 a year to get MSB rolling.

After that, the organization will use fundraising techniques established by Heritage Ohio to keep things on track.

What else?

Both men said a major goal the first year will be to establish a database of downtown assets, with an eye to attracting new businesses and residential tenants.

“We’re going to try and digitize this and get one comprehensive report,” Liddle said.

He said bringing people to live downtown will create a vibrant sector that benefits new and existing businesses located there.

“Eventually, we want to see more people living downtown,” he said.

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Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859. Email him at aashworth@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Will new group revitalize downtown? Main Street Barberton's plans