A little over a year ago I had the opportunity to sit down with a great group of volunteers, JB Bryant of Strategic Alignment Group LLC, Adam Hanzie of PackShip USA, and Michael Sollenberger of Proforma Enterprise Marketing.  We gathered to set a strong foundation for the newly launched EntreprenOrrville Center for Business Innovation (ECBI).  The task seemed a bit daunting, but we were up to the challenge.

The need arose following a few rejected grant applications for proposed projects through the center.  I quickly realized that I wasn’t quite sure how everything was supposed to fit together and that was making it difficult to write a compelling need statement on any application.  I asked JB to assist us with his skills in organizational planning and development and he agreed.  During the course of eight intensive weeks we produced a vision for ECBI, the Center’s values, and goals for the coming year.  We had eight goals listed.  Definitely a stretch for any organization, but even more so for one that relies on volunteers to get the job done.  Today, we’re happy to report we have completed six of the eight and are on our way to putting number seven in the books.

On July 1st, the United States Department of Agriculture awarded Main Street Orrville a Rural Business Enterprise Grant to create an entrepreneur-in-residence position for our community.  With additional funding  from our partner in this project, Kent State University College of Business Administration.  So now, we are looking for someone to be Orrville’s first entrepreneur-in-residence (click for position posting).

I need to thank Dr. Paulette Popovich of University of Akron Wayne College and Mark Morek with Point Search Partners for their diligent work in putting this position post together.

So how about it?  Are you prepared to be Orrville’s first entrepreneur-in-residence? To apply send resume/CV and a brief statement, based on the candidate requirements, on why you should be Orrville’s first EIR to Darrin Wasniewski, director@mainstreetorrville.org.

Heritage Ohio, our statewide Main Street coordinating agency, recently closed its call for nominations for awards to be presented at the annual Preservation and Revitalization Conference in Athens, OH, June 16th and 17th.  Main Street Orrville thought this would be a perfect opportunity to hopefully garner some statewide recognition for two great projects in our district and one tireless volunteer for our organization.

Best Commercial Rehabilitation- Kim Cowgill Edward Jones Investments

Kim Cowgill Edward Jones Investments before

Transformational is the best word that I can think of to describe the change along W

Kim Cowgill Edward Jones Investments after

Market St.  After purchasing the building in 2006, although her office has been located at 149 W Market St since 1999, Kim decided that her office needed to show a better face to the Orrville community.  She worked with Main Street Orrville and Orrville resident Todd Wallace of Cornachione and Wallace Architects to create just the right look.  Crafting an appropriate storefront in the former Grand Theater wasn’t a simple task.  Care had to be taken to coordinate with interior remodeling already underway.  We think the outcome was just Grand!

Best Public Rehabilitation- Smith Dairy Products downtown

Main and Church before

In urban planning circles it is well known that breaks in the streetscape creates a

Main and Church after

psychological barrier for any forward movement by pedestrians.  Essentially this recognizes that as a person walks along a street if they encounter an empty lot their mind will tell them that nothing more exists beyond this void and cause them to turn around.  This isn’t very helpful to the other businesses that do exist on the other side of the empty lot.  We had just such an example on the southwest corner of N Main and W Church St.  As the corner developed fr the Dairy there was no need for anything fronting the street from just north of City Hall to the corner.  All of that changed, though, when Smith Dairy needed to add storage tanks for a new product line.  Instead of just placing the tanks on their property they incorporated a screen wall to shield the silos from pedestrian view and fill in that void.  What a change this made to the N Main Street streetscape.

W Church St mural by Michael Gearhart

But our great downtown neighbors didn’t stop there.  In preparation for their 100th

N Vine St mural by Michael Gearhart

anniversary celebration, Smith Dairy also worked on the rest of the facility, added new signage, and commissioned artist Michael Gearhart to paint two public art murals depicting scenes from the company’s first 100 years.  All of this represents a true gift to the citizens of Orrville.

Spirit of Main Street- Jack Runion

Jack either cheerleading for Main Street Orrville or dancing to YMCA

Tireless is the best way I can think to describe Jack Runion, owner of Runions’

Furniture, and Main Street Orrville board member and Promotion Committee chair.  Jack has been with us since before we were Main Street Orrville. His signature can be found on many Main Street Orrville undertakings Orrville Farmers’ Market, the former Motorin’ on Market Street Party and Cruise-in and now the Orrville Rib and Music Fest, Bloomin’ Orrville!, our website, our annual reports, and the forthcoming downtown district National Register of Historic Places nomination.

But it is more than just the visible stuff that makes Jack invaluable to our Main Street organization.  In the five years of our program he has become a trusted advisor, a fresh perspective, creative thinker, fire-putter-outer, and all around go-to guy for me as executive director.  His tireless spirit, relentless advocacy, and cheerleading embodies the Spirit of Main Street.

Title: Michael’s Bakery 25th Anniversary Celebration
Location: 145 W Market St, Orrville OH 44667
Description: Join Michael and Cathy Brown as they celebrate 25 years in downtown Orrville. Live music from Different Directions from 7 to 9 pm.
Start Time: 06:00
Date: 2010-01-15
End Time: 21:00

Title: Dream Out Loud in Orrville Entrepreneur Series
Location: tbd
Start Time: 18:30
Date: 2010-02-24
End Time: 20:00

Title: Orrville Rib and Music Fest
Location: downtown Orrville
Link out: Click here
Description: Great food- Great music-Great times
Start Time: 12:00
Date: 2010-08-07
End Time: 22:00

Title: Orrville Rib and Music Fest
Location: downtown Orrville
Link out: Click here
Description: Great food- Great music- Great times!
Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2010-08-06
End Time: 22:00

Title: EntreprenOrrville Apprentice Challenge Lunch
Location: Smith Orr Homestead, 365 W Market St
Link out: Click here
Description: Join Main Street Orrville as we celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week and honor our current and past participants in the EntreprenOrrville Apprentice Challenge. We will have the opportunity to hear from our Spring and Fall student entrepreneurs as they relate their experiences in this challenging six week program. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions in this interactive forum.
The Smith Orr Homestead will provide the perfect setting for this lunch recognizing the future of our community. Attendees have the choice of a variety of sandwich or salad options. You will be contacted once your reservation is received to confirm your meal selection.
Start Time: 12:00
Date: 2009-11-20
End Time: 13:00

Title: \”Dream Out Loud in Orrville\” Entrepreneur Series
Location: 127 E Water St
Link out: Click here
Description: Free, but registration required

Join Main Street Orrville\’s EntreprenOrrville Center for Business Innovation (ECBI) and Franchisemart- Akron\’s Rodd Welker for this interactive forum on the opportunities that exist with franchises. During the course of the evening you will have the chance to discuss:

* Why Orrville is a great place for your next business venture;
* The opportunities that exist with franchising;
* And how Main Street Orrville\’s ECBI and Franchisemart- Akron can help you realize your dreams.

Our first event in the \”Dream Out Loud in Orrville\” Entrepreneur Series will be held in the beautifully rehabilitated, and available, storefront located at 127 E Water St. This great space is highlighted by great features such as refinished wood floors and exposed brick.

Parking is conveniently located just across E Water St in City Parking Lot B or a half a block away in City Parking Lot E.

Come join us during Global Entrepreneurship Week and Dream Out Loud in Orrville- Where Great Things Happen.

Start Time: 18:30
Date: 2009-11-18
End Time: 20:00

Title: Orrville Farmers\’ Market
Location: on Depot St @ W Market
Link out: Click here
Start Time: 16:00
Date: 2009-07-30
End Time: 19:00

Title: Orrville Farmers\’ Market
Location: on Depot St @ W Market
Link out: Click here
Start Time: 16:00
Date: 2009-07-23
End Time: 19:00