About the Program

The Historic Downtown Rising Sun Business Development Program builds on a strong tourism industry with an Arts as Economics approach to revitalizing the economy with cultural tourism.

Mission:
Historic Downtown Program’s mission is to revitalize and preserve our historic downtown through business development, partnerships, and promotion.

Vision:
Historic Downtown Rising Sun is a charming River Town with a rich 200-year history where visitors and residents enjoy vibrant businesses, attractions and on-going activities. It’s a welcoming community that provides a feeling of stepping back in history with conveniences of present day.

Organization:
The Rising Sun Historic Downtown Program is a non-profit membership organization made up of business owners, public officials, and residents with the common goal of revitalizing the Main Street business district.

Established in 1996 by the Rising Sun Redevelopment Commission, the Historic Downtown Program provides administrative services, economic incentives, training, networking, and cooperative marketing opportunities to encourage business success.

The Historic Downtown Program is governed by a 9 member volunteer Board of Directors. The City of Rising Sun employs a full-time Downtown Director and a part-time program assistant.

The Rising Sun Historic Downtown Program is a Member of the National Historic Trust Main Street Center and an award-winning member of the Indiana Main Street Association. In 2003, the Governor of Indiana awarded Rising Sun the 2003 Governors Arts Award, the Indiana Main Street awarded Historic Downtown the Innovation Award for its Arts as Education concept and the Southern Indiana Rural Development Projects Inc. awarded the City of Rising Sun with the Southern Indiana Community Legacy Award.