Vincennes learns about INVIN which wants to attract art-related businesses

VCBD president Aaron Bauer told his fellow members about INVin last month and encouraged a partnership with the new organization, but he declined to identify its founder.

Miller stood to address the VCBD members gathered at Baker’s Alley for their monthly meeting and even poked a little fun at the cloud of mystery that had hung over his identity, although many had known all along.

“I guess I should have worn a mask,” he said with a chuckle.

But in reality, Miller said he is merely a former Vincennes resident who wants to see Main Street thrive once again.

“Small towns have become victims of downtown growth going elsewhere,” he told the group. “I want to see what else can be done to help, and that is what led to the creation of INVin.”

Miller, an attorney and certified public accountant, said he moved with his parents to Vincennes from Mt. Carmel, Ill., in the 1960s, and he attended Central Catholic High School. When he left town to attend Indiana University, so did his parents, but his employment with Pioneer Oil, a company that is renovating the old Hills Building on Main Street, has brought him back to Vincennes.

He has since bought the old Second National Bank building at the corner of Second and Main streets and is renovating the top two floors for his own private residence.

And he has acquired for INVin, a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 organization, the New Moon Theater at 529 Main St., a 9,200-square-foot theater built in 1939, and by the end of the year he said the historic Pantheon Theater will also be under its control.

INVin’s primary intent, he said, will be to put new roofs on those buildings, restore their historic marquees and ready them for reuse.

“Our goal will be to acquire these properties, make sure they are preserved and then find a use for them that will bring people downtown,” he said.

Also one of INVin’s goals is to re-establish the current, yet inactive, Indiana’s Main Street organization under its leadership.

The city got involved in the Main Street program a few years ago to get a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant to pay for downtown improvements that included new sidewalks, new lighting and city seals imprinted onto its intersections with Second and Sixth streets.

The program falls under the direction of the Urban Enterprise Association, but little has been done through the program since the downtown revitalization effort was completed in 2008.

To be set up according to current Indiana Main Street guidelines, a local Main Street organization would need the following: A nonprofit organization willing to act as the “umbrella” entity under which a steering committee would then be formed. Other sub-committees would subsequently be created to deal with organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring, so, to be successful, it would need a large volunteer base.

Miller said INVin is working to establish a steering committee that would look to see the creation of those arms, and once everything is in place, INVin could apply for the Indiana Main Street status, which would open it up to lucrative grant opportunities.

Bauer has already agreed to serve on that committee, and previous discussions were that the VCBD could act as the promotional arm of the larger organization.

Ellen Harper, a Vincennes native who once worked for the Indiana Main Street program, told members of the VCBD that its leaders are looking to get rid of all inactive Main Street programs soon, and she would hate to see Vincennes fall victim to its ax.

“I think it is vitally important,” she said, “and it’s a good way to organize your resources. It’s just a good status piece for our community.”