Heart of Jasper Provides 2025 Overview

With funding secured for another year, Heart of Jasper reviewed their 2025 initiatives.

Heart of Jasper Director Kate Schwenk provided a look back at some of the organization’s downtown business activation projects this year. Demand for the façade program continues to be strong. In 2025, HOJ received 15 applications. 10 were commercial, 3 were signs, and 2 were newly eligible residential properties. The total project amount of private investment was $550,000, and the total requested was $85,000. With funds carried over from previous years, $75,000 was awarded for façade work.

The business incentive program, which is funded from an anonymous local donor, has become more competitive. Since the project began, $350,000 has been awarded to small businesses, This year, there were 24 inquiries, 3 of which completed the application process. The program will be funded again in 2026 for $50,000. This year, 7 new businesses opened, 4 closed, and 4 relocated from downtown. There are 9 vacant spaces still available for rent in the downtown district, and none for sale.

In August of this year, perimeter lights were installed around the square. In addition to beautification, the project helps to support a new goal of facilitating more evening activities. Schwenk said that, for the last 5 years, Heart of Jasper has focused on arts, entertainment, and dining. Over the summer, HOJ decided to shift their efforts to “alive after five,” responding to requests for more food and entertainment options after 5:00 downtown. She pointed to Wood Capital as an example of a business making a big impact by staying open later and providing new options to residents. The organization would like to attract and retain businesses that could be open in the evening and contribute to a more vibrant square.

For more information on these and other updates, visit jasperindiana.gov or JasperGov-Indiana on Facebook.

- By Drew Hasselbring