Updates from the F.L.A.

Ligonier library seeks grant for expansion

BY BOB BUTTGEN

Thursday, 19 May 2011

LIGONIER — The Ligonier Public Library, now in its 103rd year of operation, is looking to expand and needs the public’s help in securing a grant to help pay for a possible new addition, or renovation project.

“We have ran out of space to grow in,” library director Jerry Nesbitt said this week. “Our shelves are full to bursting, our computer rooms are full, and we have a lack of space for meetings and programs.

“The Ligonier Public Library needs to build on, to meet the needs of our community and we need the public’s help to do so.”

The library is asking for letters of support from the community, to accompany its request for a Community Focus Grant on the possibility of an expansion or renovation.

“The more letters of encouragement we receive, the better the chance for us to get the grant,” Nesbitt said.

This grant would allow us to begin the planning stages for a possible expansion.”

Letters should be concise about why patrons believe the library needs to expand or renovate, and should also include the writers’ positive feelings about the library, Nesbitt said.

The letters can be sent by email or by U.S. mail. If mailing out a physical copy, residents should use their actual signature to sign it with their printed name below.

The library is using a consultant, Robert Murphy, to apply for the grant.

Letters can be e-mailed to repmurphygrants@kconline.com

Or they can be mailed or dropped off to the Ligonier Public Library, 300 S. Main St., Ligonier, IN 46767.

Leaders Discuss Ligonier’s Future

BY BOB BUTTGEN

Thursday, 23 September 2010

LIGONIER — Many improvements have come to Ligonier’s downtown area over the past five years, but community leaders are not content to sit back and be satisfied that their work is done. City officials and a large corps of volunteers are working to do more to enhance the city’s viability for business and tourism.

Those improvements, including the addition of nearly two dozen large murals on the exteriors of buildings along or near Cavin Street, the city’s main downtown business route. Beautiful, expensive bronze statues have been donated to the city and one large, former eyesore building has been razed in order for a new park to be built on the site.

Dozens of buildings have been painted and many old signs and decaying facades repaired along Cavin Street.

And almost 100 percent of these improvements have come from the work of volunteers, or through grants from foundations or donations by individuals and businesses.

But now the city is looking to move forward in the revitalization of the downtown area.

Tuesday night, one of the first steps was taken when the Future Ligonier Alliance (FLA) hosted a seminar on Ligonier’s role as a member of the Indiana Main Street program. It’s a nationwide effort to help America’s cities and towns preserve their Main Street heritage and make improvements.

John Bry, executive director of the Noble County Visitor’s Bureau, was the featured speaker at Tuesday’s seminar, “Downtown 101,” which attracted about 70 people to the Ligonier United Methodist Church. Bry, who has extensive experience working with communities and their Main Street efforts, spoke for nearly two hours on ways in which other small cities have helped to make improvements.

Bry also addressed specific issues pertaining to Ligonier, including what has been done in the past and what can be done in the future to keep the downtown area fresh and strong.

Bry is helping other cities and towns in Noble County with their downtown revitalization efforts, and said the work being done here is attracting attention in Indianapolis.

“The state of Indiana is watching us right now,” Bry said. “There has not been a successful county-wide revitalization effort undertaken in the state.”

Noble County’s communities, he noted, by working together, can accomplish much greater things than individual efforts. Bry has made similar presentations to other communities in the county and more are planned.

The goal of these renewed efforts in making improvements to downtowns is to make those areas “positive assets for tourism, as well as small businesses, residential and cultural purposes,” Bry said. Downtowns need to be turned into “community calling cards.”

Bry outlined his history in dealing with other locations including Flora, Ill., and Urbana, Ohio.

Ligonier, he said, has made great strides in the past several years. “You are ahead of many other cities already,” he said.

He said the city’s mural program, statues, banners and flags, as well as the improvements made by Operation Foundation have attracted a lot of attention in other parts of the state.

He cautioned those in attendance that change will not happen quickly. “Our downtowns didn’t deteriorate overnight, so the fix won’t happen overnight, either.”

Bry urges cities to take a four-step approach as outlined by the Main Street organization. Those four steps are design, organization, promotion and economics.

Downtown revitalization, he warned, does not mean trying to turn business districts back to the way they were in the 1950s or 60s. “Adaptability” is the keyword to success in the 21st century, according to Bry.

Ligonier and other communities must work on partnerships, network and sharing of resources with other communities that have the same goals as well as the same problems.

Tuesday night’s meeting was the first step in the next phase of Ligonier’s efforts to bring more business and tourism to its downtown area. While good things have happened in the last half-decade and great things can be accomplished in the future, it’s going to take hard work and determination for Ligonier, or any city in Noble County, to make its downtown district even stronger and more vibrant, Bry told his audience.

The Future Ligonier Alliance, sponsor of Bry’s appearance in Ligonier, along with Operation Foundation, is taking the lead in working with city officials to make improvements to the city. It’s an all-volunteer grassroots organization that will continue to do all it can to bring more tourist dollars to Ligonier, according to Mark Furkis, current president of the FLA.

More information on the FLA can be found on its website, futureligonier.org

 Strawberry 'Daze' 2010 a success!   6/21/2010

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Plans for Essex Park Unveiled!   6/15/2010

BY CHRIS FOUGHT 

LIGONIER - After last night's city council meeting, Mayor Patty Fisel unveiled plans for the former Essex Wire property. The project is being paid for in part by grants from the Jennie Thompson Foundation and the Hagen Family Foundation in Ligonier along with funds from the Ligonier Redevelopment Commission. The decrepit building was donated to the city by the Pettit Family who had owned the property for the last several decades. The city was responsible for the demolition of the building which quickly transformed into the largest recycling project in the State of Indiana, being used as a model for future Brownfield demolitions across the state.

Plans call for a large pavillion that could be used for a farmer's market, educational events, or small concerts and community events. The pavillion will be equipped with men's and women's restrooms and is designed to complement the historic architecture downtown.

The park will be a welcome addition to the many other improvements downtown including 20 larger than life murals, 5 life-size bronze sculptures, and the one mile Elkhart Riverwalk which is currently under development.

Here are the concept renderings which were done by the Troyer Group:
 

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Ligonier Now Has 5 Bronze Statues!   5/7/2010
 

LIGONIER - Located throughout various parts of the city of Ligonier are 5 life size bronze statues which were donated by two individuals. The donor of one of the statues is Gene Alber who donated the statue in memory of her husband. The other four statues were also donated to the city and that person chooses to remain anonymous. Here are some photos in case you hve not had the opportunity to see them in person.
 

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Essex Building is officially gone!   10/03/2009

BY CHRIS FOUGHT
 

LIGONIER - While bittersweet in the fact that a small piece of history has been lost, the dilapidated old Essex Wire Building has been demolished. The land is now ready to be transformed into a riverside park which will be the perfect addition to the one mile riverwalk which is still being developed along the Elkhart River.
 

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OF09 | Mission Accomplished!   7/30/2009

BY CHRIS FOUGHT
 

LIGONIER - Be sure to drive through Ligonier and see all of the great changes that have taken place this past week during the third annual Operation Foundation work week. This year, nearly 600 volunteers descended on Ligonier's downtown and surrounding residential areas. Take a look!
 

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