WILMINGTON — Peoples Bancorp Foundation, a non-profit corporation formed to make donations in Peoples Bank market areas, recently awarded $5,000 to Main Street Wilmington for the continued development of downtown Wilmington as an event destination.

The vision of Main Street Wilmington “is to become a lively and vibrant hub for specialty shopping and for the arts (visual, literary, and performing) in downtown Wilmington … to attract unique destination businesses, as well as provide premier housing that invites upscale residents, and assist in strengthening current establishments.”

“Supporting Main Street Wilmington fits perfectly with the bank’s commitment to work together to build success in the community,” said Ed Reilly Executive Vice President – Regional President. “We know this grant is important and will make a positive impact in the county. We’re thrilled to be a part of the progress.”

Main Street Wilmington is part of the Ohio Main Street Program, administered by Heritage Ohio, which works with communities across the state to revitalize historic or traditional commercial areas. Based in historic preservation, the Main Street approach was developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to save historic commercial architecture and the fabric of American communities.

The Main Street Program is “designed to improve all aspects of the downtown or central business district, producing both tangible and intangible benefits. Improving economic management, strengthening public participation, and making downtown a fun place to visit are as critical to Main Street’s future as recruiting new businesses, rehabilitating buildings, and expanding parking. Building on downtown’s inherent assets — rich architecture, personal service, and traditional values and most of all, a sense of place — the Main Street approach has rekindled entrepreneurship, downtown cooperation and civic concern.”