HOBART

The phrase Main Street has been used to describe everything from our nostalgic past to our current economic woes, but when we talk about Main Street, we are thinking of the city and people of Hobart doing real work to revitalize our economie and preserve our character. Specifically, Main Street is three things: a proven strategy for revitalization, a powerful network of linked businesses, and people and a support program that leads the field.

Hobart was approved and accepted into the Oklahoma Main Street Program in 2002 for the purpose of saving the downtown business district from continued downfall.  Since 2002, there has been a significant improvement in preserving the historic buildings, increasing businesses and sales tax revenue, promoting and conducting events, and providing professional expertise and knowledge to the business owners in downtown Hobart.  Nearly $8 million has been reinvested in the downtown area in the last 9 years since the Hobart Main Street Program began.  A total of 55 new businesses has started with over 180 new employees.  Over 48 buildings have been sold during that time span.  The Downtown Hobart Business District was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 2006.  Progress is continuing each year due to the efforts of committed and dedicated volunteers.

Yearly membership in the Hobart Main Street Program is to fund the program in order to continue to preserve the historic buildings of downtown Hobart, make improvements in the buildings, sidewalks, and signage through the Storefront Restoration Grant, provide training opportunities to increase business in downtown Hobart, Plan and conduct events during the year (Hobart Fly-in, Celebration of Freedom, and Pumpkin Palooza/Pumpkin Chunkin Festival), encourage new businesses to utilize vacant buildings, and encourage entrepreneurial opportunities for new businesses.

All of the programs that have been mentioned are successfully accomplished through the four-point approach of the Oklahoma Main Street Program which is; Promotions, Economic Restructuring, Design, and Organization.  The Hobart Main Street Program is comprised of these four areas with committee chairperson and committee members who meet to plan their direction and celebrate their accomplishments.