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Wabash Marketplace, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit
corporation founded in 1981by local business and community
leaders. WMI was formed with the following goals:
To reduce unemployment and underemployment by assisting and
enabling expansion of small business in and around downtown
Wabash.
To combat community deterioration by promoting stability,
growth, and development of small business in and around downtown
Wabash.
To strengthen the existing physical development in and around
downtown Wabash by assisting and enabling the preservation
and rehabilitation of buildings.
To otherwise conduct charitable and educational activities
necessary and appropriate to alleviating the serious problems
of unemployment, blight and deterioration in and around downtown
Wabash.
In the 20 years since the founding of Wabash Marketplace,
the members, in cooperation with citizens, business groups,
service organizations, and political allies, have completed
several major goals and projects. Some of the more recent
are:
1994 - Wabash Marketplace applied for Membership
in Indiana Main Street and was accepted as an Associate
Member. WMI adopted Main Street’s four point approach
to revitalization.
1995 - Implementation and management of the Very
Berry Strawberry Fest.
1995 - Wabash Marketplace received a Grant from
the State of Indiana’s Neighborhood Assistance Program
to renovate the Webb Building. The project was completed
and the building was sold to a private investor.
1996 - Working with the City of Wabash and Gove
Associates WMI helped develop a Master Plan for Downtown
Revitalization.
1998 - Receipt of a $500,000 Grant from the State
of Indiana’s Community Focus Funds to complete Phase
I of the Downtown Streetscape Project.
1998 - Wabash Marketplace raised $100,000 to match
the CFF Grant for Phase I of the Downtown Streetscape Project.
1998 - Wabash Marketplace received a Grant from
the State of Indiana’s Neighborhood Assistance Program
to renovate the National Block Building. The project was
completed and the building was sold to a private investor.
1999 - Working with Midwest Office of the National
Trust for Historic Preservation, WMI commissioned a study
called the Community Organization Effectiveness Project
(COEP). The study analyzed the WMI’s past and present
roles in downtown revitalization and made recommendations
based on their findings.
1999 -Wabash Marketplace petitioned the Wabash
City Council to establish a third National Registry Historic
District.
1999 - Wabash Marketplace applied for membership
in the National Registry’s Historic Landmarks Foundation
and was accepted as an Associate Member.
2002 - Wabash Marketplace received a Grant from Indiana Main Street through Ball State University's Historic Preservation Assistanceship Program for an Inventory Project.
2004 - Announcement of grant award of $550,000 from the Indiana Department of Transportation for Phase II of Wabash Streetscape.
2005 - Announcement of grant award of $511,613 from the Indiana Office of Rural Affairs for Phase III of Wabash Streetscape.
In addition to the Webb and Block buildings, Wabash Marketplace
has helped renovate two other downtown buildings and continues
to encourage improvement of Downtown Wabash sidewalks, facades,
and landscaping. Most recently, a section of Miami Street
fronting Smith Furniture and a section of Wabash Street
fronting the new Wabash County Historical Museum west parking
facility have both been replaced in the style of Streetscape.
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