Governor's Office for Local Development
113 Cities Recognized, Inducted to the Renaissance on Main Program

         Over 100 Kentucky cities were recognized at the 30th Annual Governor’s Local

Issues Conference held August 4-5 at the Galt House East in Louisville.  Renaissance on

Main, the downtown revitalization program, awarded 63 Kentucky cities with the rank of

Certified I or Certified II, 36 cities with the rank of Candidate and 14 cities with the rank of

Invited.  Each city was recognized at the 2005 Governor’s Local Issues Conference

luncheon. Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence, who addressed the luncheon crowd of over

500 local officials, noted the tremendous popularity and success of the Renaissance

program.  “The Renaissance on Main program has worked closely with local government to

help them fashion and maintain exciting economic development opportunities while creating a

fun atmosphere that people enjoy.  The cities recognized here today have shown a

commitment to creating these energetic downtowns which are the pulse of many

 communities.”

            Cities that are Certified I Renaissance on Main cities are eligible for funding up to $150,000.  Certified II cities can receive up to $75,000 for their downtown projects.  Candidate cities are communities that have been in the Renaissance program in the past.  Invited cities have never been involved in the Renaissance program.

            Cities can use their Renaissance funds to restore buildings, to renovate sidewalks and streetscapes, to create facades and numerous other projects in order to create an overall downtown improvement to attract and retain businesses.

            Renaissance on Main is also under the direction of a new executive director.  Renee Alexander, a former executive assistant for the Renaissance on Main program, takes the place of Ginger Wills, who went on to become the executive director of the Office of Rural and Secondary Roads in the Transportation Cabinet.

            Commissioner Ellen Williams of the Governor’s Office for Local Development, says Alexander was a great candidate for the Renaissance program.  “Renee brings programmatic knowledge and a good relationship from her previous role as an executive assistant to the Renaissance on Main program.  She has a great understanding of the issues that cities face in dealing with their downtown development.”

The downtown revitalization program, which focuses on Kentucky cities, was originally established in 1996 to represent an alliance of both state and non-state agencies and organizations focusing resources, funding and expertise on historic preservation.  The Renaissance on Main program extends that focus to economic development.

            The Renaissance Alliance, an advisory committee to Renaissance on Main, is comprised of members from Governor’s Office for Local Development, where the program administratively resides, and representatives from Kentucky Heritage Council/Main Street Program, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the Kentucky Department of Tourism, the Kentucky League of Cities, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati and the Kentucky Housing Corporation.