About Main Street Bowling Green

Main Street BG is a Special Improvement District within the Downtown Bowling Green area. It serves the downtown as a liaison with government offices, other merchants and the media. Main Street BG strives to enhance and stabilize the economic vitality of the central business district through long-term improvement projects and ongoing promotional activities.

By organizing merchants, citizens and city officials, Main Street BG has built a framework that serves to keep downtown Bowling Green from the neglect and despair many other downtowns have fallen to.

To encourage and participate in programs, improving upon existing quality traits, to expand the Central Business District as a viable business, cultural and recreational locale for the City of Bowling Green.

The FOUR-POINT APPROACH

The Main Street Bowling Green uses the "Four-Point Approach" to downtown revitalization, a comprehensive plan established by the National Main Street Center, part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C:

Floyd Craft, Chair - Mr. Craft is owner of the Ben Franklin Variety & Crafts, Main Street Ace Hardware and For Keeps Gifts stores in downtown Bowling Green. He is also a partner in Newcraft Real Estate and was one of many that was instrumental in the creation of the Black Swamp Arts Festival held in downtown Bowling Green each summer.

Darlene Minnick, Vice-Chair - Ms. Minnick is currently the Business Development Officer Vice President of Huntington Bank in downtown Bowling Green dealing with the needs of Small Business.

Elaine Paulette, Secretary - Ms. Paulette is currently the Director of the Wood County District Public Library and involved with Zonta, The BG Women's Club and various other woman's clubs in the Bowling Green area.

Randall J. Roberts, Treasurer - Mr. Roberts, a local CPA, is involved with the downtown real estate market and currently chair of the Wood Lane Residential Services Board, Inc.

John Fawcett, Ex-Offico - Mr. Fawcett is Bowling Green's Municipal Administrator as well as the Safety Director who oversees the Police and Fire Divisions. He is also a retired Army veteran and continues to serve his comrades as an active member of the Veterans Service commission for Wood County.

Dick Newlove, 3 Year Trustee - Mr. Newlove is President of Newlove Realty, Inc. He is a past president of the Board of Trustees of Bowling Green State University, a former recipient of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce "Man of the Year" Award and co-founder of the Bowling Green Community Development Foundation. Mr. Newlove is also a partner in Newcraft Real Estate.

Jim Farrell, 2 Year Trustee - Mr. Farrell came to Bowling Green from southern New Jersey in the fall of 1968 to attend BGSU. In the spring of 1972 he opened Sam B's Sub Shop and decided to stay in Bowling Green. Sam B's is now an excellent downtown restaurant.

Barbara Rothrock, 1 Year Trustee - Ms. Rothrock, a long time supporter of the downtown, has owned and operated Calico, Sage and Thyme, a distinctive gift store in Bowling Green, for over 31 years. She has been involved with the Black Swamp Herb Society since it's inception and actively supports the viability of many community projects.

Kathy Gross, 1 year Trustee - Ms. Gross and her husband Bill are co-owners of The Answer Factory, a computer store in downtown Bowling Green. Together, they founded the MS JAM Foundation, a non-profit organization to raise awareness about Multiple Sclerosis as well as to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Greg Halamay, 1 year Trustee - Mr. Halamay graduated from BGSU and established his company, Finder's Records and Tapes, in 1971. He then opened a second store in Findlay in 1975. He is a multiple property owner in the downtown area and was one of the board members of the original Downtown Business Association.