Calendar of Events

December 10, 2025

Webinar: Elevate Your City’s Profile: Using 3D Spatial Tours to Drive Economic Growth and Community Development

A 3D spatial tour offers an immersive, interactive way for potential residents, tourists, and business investors to explore your city from anywhere in the world. By creating a virtual walkthrough of key areas—downtown districts, industrial parks, residential neighborhoods, cultural landmarks, and recreational facilities—you provide an engaging first impression that static photos and text simply cannot match.

December 16, 2025

2025 Appalachia Heritage Luncheon
Columbus, OH

Join us to honor the rich history of Ohio’s Appalachia region at the Ohio Statehouse.

February 18, 2026

Revitalization Series Workshop: AI for Nonprofits and Speaking to Elected Officials
Delaware, OH

The morning session will be a hands-on introduction to the core concepts, tools, and strategies related to AI for Nonprofits. Designed specifically for nonprofit leaders, this workshop will show attendees how to leverage artificial intelligence to streamline operations, strengthen engagement, and amplify the organization’s mission impact.

The second part of the training will feature an in-depth training on communicating with elected officials at both the local, county, and state levels. This session will be led by Main Street America’s Senior Director of Government Relations, Kelly Humrichouser. Participants will leave the training with an understanding of what is important to those office holders, how to communicate with them and how to craft your message specifically for elected officials.

April 13-15, 2026

2026 Main Street Now Conference
Tulsa, OK

Join peers from across the Main Street network and experts in commercial district stewardship for insightful education sessions, unique special events, immersive mobile workshops, and incredible experiences in Tulsa.

Between 1910 and 1970, millions of African Americans fled the rural South for cities in the North, West, and Midwest during the era known as the Great Migration. Hear how a dedicated historic preservationist, a vintage Greyhound bus, and one of the largest historic theater organizations in the country are partnering on an immersive museum experience that celebrates the tenacity of Americans who escaped the Jim Crow segregation and violence of the South for a better life in Cleveland.
The Great Migration and the Road to Freedom: Adaptive Reuse from Bus to Museum Exhibit
YouTube Video VVVfdi1XaXpadFRTa3ZoVHpwSmZDUzRBLkl2d0lEd0x6MUtZ
Cosponsored by Heritage Ohio and other partners, Ohio Open Doors is back and scheduled for next September 10-20, 2026. That may be almost a year away, but it’s not too early to save the date! Program manager Andy Verhoff, of the Ohio History Connection’s State Historic Preservation Office, shares how Ohio Open Doors (OOD) can help you draw visitors to your community’s historic buildings and downtowns. Besides reviewing program goals, Andy outlines how you can participate and share ideas for successful and easy-to-plan OOD events. Ohio Open Doors has been hosted every two years since the first event 2016, which commemorated the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. For more about Ohio Open Doors, visit: www.ohiohistory.org/opendoors.
How to Participate in Ohio Open Doors in 2026
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The historic neighborhood of Franklinton was initially founded in 1797, 15 years before the City of Columbus, and has a rich history as both a residential neighborhood and an industrial area. Through the years Franklinton has been impacted both positively and negatively by the growth of Columbus. In recent years, the push to redevelop the area has caused many historic buildings to be lost. Schooley Caldwell was hired to survey the neighborhood and document all historic religious resources in the community before any more are lost. In addition to four sites that were already on the Ohio Historic Inventory, 11 more were identified and added to the OHI. This is the story of those properties that were once the heart of a vibrant community. Our Presenters: Melinda Shah and Amanda Fuson work for Schooley Caldwell Associates, an architectural firm founded in 1944 that has a specialization in historic preservation. In their mission to build a better world, Schooley Caldwell Associates has a strong portfolio of work in a range of public and private market types that includes civic/government facilities, academic spaces, student housing, multi-unit residential facilities, cultural and recreation facilities, offices, and mixed-use developments Nathalie Wright has been an independent historic preservation consultant since 2004 with specialized expertise with the National Register of Historic Places and historic survey programs, having served as the Survey and National Register Coordinator for the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) from 1995 to 2003. She has conducted architectural surveys on hundreds of buildings throughout numerous Ohio communities and written dozens of National Register nominations.
Franklinton Religious Resources Study Webinar
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This film premiered at the 2025 Heritage Ohio Film Festival in Canton. For nearly 30 years, Heritage Ohio has supported community leaders through the Ohio Main Street Program — offering workshops, technical assistance, and professional development to help transform Ohio’s downtowns. Hear firsthand from Main Street directors in Lorain County how Heritage Ohio helps them achieve their goals and provides ongoing support to do their work with confidence, clarity, and connection.
2025 Heritage Ohio Film Festival: Ohio Main Street Training & Technical Assistance
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This film premiered at the 2025 Heritage Ohio Film Festival in Akron. Across Ohio, scores of vacant yet important historic buildings are being given a second lease on life, thanks to the Historic Preservation Tax Credit incentive. See how projects like the Bowery District in Akron rely heavily on these incentives to make the restoration of these historic assets possible.
2025 Heritage Ohio Film Festival: Historic Tax Credits - Akron Civic Theatre & Bowery Block Projects
YouTube Video VVVfdi1XaXpadFRTa3ZoVHpwSmZDUzRBLmZFWElab3FFZDRn
This film premiered during the 2025 Heritage Ohio Film Festival in Canton. Located in Northeast Ohio, Canton Ohio is experiencing a downtown renaissance that is not to be missed. Founded in 1805, this former factory town has transformed itself into a destination for arts, culture, sports, and so much more. Hear how targeted investments, public art, and key partnerships have positioned Canton as a top destination in Ohio.
2025 Heritage Ohio Film Festival: The Canton Experience
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Since 1989, Heritage Ohio has fostered economic development through historic preservation and the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods across Ohio. Our work is simple yet profound: save the places that matter. Build community. Live better. Hear about what we do, why we do it, and how we can help you and your community achieve your revitalization goals.
2025 Heritage Ohio Film Festival: The Story of Heritage Ohio
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This film premiered at the 2025 Heritage Ohio Film Festival in Canton. Kent has been part of Ohio Main Street for 25 years, and they’ve created partnerships, special events, diversity initiatives, and heritage tourism to make their district a thriving destination for residents, students, and visitors. Hear how they’ve fostered a vibrant, inclusive community in a college town.
2025 Heritage Ohio Film Festival: Ohio Main Street Featuring Main Street Kent
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This film premiered at the 2025 Heritage Ohio Film Festival in Canton.
2025 Heritage Ohio Film Festival: A Tribute to Kirk Schuring - Downtown Advocate
YouTube Video VVVfdi1XaXpadFRTa3ZoVHpwSmZDUzRBLjhiX1pCR2Z1X1Nr
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