This event is a joint initiative of the american conservative, a magazine based in washington, and the R Street Institute, a right center think tank in town. I want to thank Hillsdale College kirby center for sponsoring us to use this great facility. This event is also being broadcast on cspan. So i want to thank them for being here as well and thank those who are joining us on cspan for this discussion. In that vein, i would like to ask our audience here in the house the usual reminder to silence your cell phones. Although we do encourage live tweeting, if you are so inclined. Conservativeurbanism. I also hope youll take a moment when you get home later or now, to follow both the american conservative and the R Street Institute twitter, facebook, you can find our website. In addition, the new Urbanism Initiative of the american conservative has their own twitter account. newurbs, which i encourage you to follow. I would like to thank our donors and sponsors who made this event and the
Photo Courtesy of Journal Review
As she watered flowers along a virtually empty downtown street on a weekday morning in late April 2020, Sue Lucas paused to capture the scene.
Restaurants had been closed to in-person dining and all non-essential workers had been ordered to stay at home as Indiana saw its first cases and deaths from COVID-19.
“There was a strong mindfulness of all the forces that were serving in response to the crisis, and new folks stepping up ready to serve,” Lucas, Crawfordsville Main Street program manager, said during the organization’s virtual annual meeting Monday.
As the virus spread, Main Street served as a pipeline for local business relief efforts and grants. A call-to-action was put out on social media urging residents to support downtown merchants.