The City of Monticello is hiring a consultant to help implement its downtown revitalization.
Mayor Ken Houston says the plan was approved three years ago, but has been largely ignored. He says after taking office this year, he realized there was still interest in putting the ideas into action.
"We have been talking about it for quite sometime. We had the tornado years back and a lot of things happened in downtown Monticello since then - changes in the economy and storefronts - things like that. People want to see some activity there and things going on.”
Houston says the primary focus is on the few blocks surrounding the White County Government Center on Main Street. However, it includes other points of interest nearby.
"When you come downtown, you can go to the store, the library, historical society, city building. We want to make it a more purposeful place to meet or go."
The city is paying Crawfordsville-based Urban Initiatives $7,650 for a strategy to execute the downtown plan, which should be completed this summer.
Houston says city council members and the chamber of commerce are enthusiastic to see a renewed effort to put the plan into action.