MOUNT VERNON — Main Street Mount Vernon changed its name to Experience Mount Vernon on Jan. 1, 2022.
The goal in that change was to better represent the recent growth of downtown Mount Vernon’s events, beautification efforts, economic development, historical preservation, and promotion.
The name change to Experience Mount Vernon follows a decision made by board members early last year to discontinue the town’s membership with Heritage Ohio, an official state organization that works to protect and support historical towns through it’s Ohio Main Street Program.
The reasoning was funds used to pay for this membership could be better allocated towards town-managed efforts in downtown revitalization.
That move also allowed board members to discuss a more appropriate name for Mount Vernon’s non-profit historic preservation and economic development organization.
According to Anthony McNeal, Mount Vernon’s downtown manager, the new name will serve to establish brand recognition for the downtown area as a whole, as opposed to that exclusively of the businesses located on Main Street.
McNeal hopes Experience Mount Vernon will attract people from out of town and will be representative of the “true experience” of visiting downtown Mount Vernon. The new name also more accurately reflects Mount Vernon’s growth of the past few months, especially in light of the pandemic.
McNeal specifically referenced the town’s increased beautification efforts, such as the planting of new trees, as well as the inauguration of new events, such as the Johnny Appleseed Festival and the Gingerbread Forest, and the return of traditional events, such as First Fridays.
This growth as well as the emphasis on Mount Vernon’s multifaceted character demonstrates the organization’s successful efforts thus far to “modernize” the city and promote all it has to offer in business, entertainment, and dining.
“(We) pride ourselves on as an organization focusing on promotion,” McNeal said.
He hopes the name change will create promotional value for downtown as a whole.
The non-profit organization responsible for bringing the town to life is excited to be recognized by its new name. Experience Mount Vernon believes it will continue to appropriately reflect the town’s contributions to the community in the months and years ahead.
