{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"S6:E2 - Downtown Redevelopment with Luke Henry","description":"Downtowns don\u2019t come back by accident. They come back because someone decides they should, and then acts on it. In this episode, Luke Henry shares how he helped catalyze downtown redevelopment in Marion, Ohio. It involves real financial risk, building an ecosystem of local businesses, and staying committed when the work got hard.  It\u2019s a real, honest look into the challenges and joys of community-led revitalization, because, like many things, it\u2019s hard but worth it.  About Luke: Luke Henry grew up in Mount Gilead, Ohio and transplanted to Marion with his wife Lindsey in 2006 while completing his Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from Ohio Northern University. His entrepreneurial journey started with mowing lawns in Junior High to make money for his first car, then to pay his way through Pharmacy School. While in college, he bought his first rental property in Ada, Ohio at the age of 19. From there, his passions have grown for both small business and real estate, building ProScape Lawn & Landscape Services over the last 25 years to nearly 100 employees and locations in Marion and Columbus, while also buying and rehabbing single family homes and small multi-family, before shifting focus in 2018 to his passionate work in downtown Marion.  Since 2018, starting with the purchase of 8 buildings on a block of South Main Street that was 80% vacant at the time, he and his team at Henry Development Group have developed 20 historic buildings into a variety of mixed-uses, including restaurants, boutiques, entertainment and event venues, loft apartments, Airbnbs, and more.  Luke is deeply involved in the community philanthropically as well, having supported and served as a board member for numerous nonprofit organizations. Luke and his wife Lindsey live near Waldo with their two children, Emerson and Olivia. In this episode, we cover: Why downtown redevelopment is about ecosystems, not single buildings What it really costs\u2014financially and emotionally\u2014to take on vacant properties How to keep moving when skeptics and naysayers show up  Why local lenders and relationships can make or break projects How small, risky first steps can spark long-term community momentum Links + Resources Mentioned: Main Street Reimagined Podcast: https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/main-street-reimagined-podcast\/id1756754601 Henry Development Group: www.henrydevelopmentgroup.com Luke Henry Facebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/luke.henry.148\/ Luke Henry LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/luhenry\/ HDG Facebook:  https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/henrydevelopmentgroup HDG LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/henry-development-group-llc\/ Want to get your business in front of our audience? We are looking for podcast sponsors! Each season, we feature a select group of Small Business Partners\u2014brands that share our mission to celebrate small-town life and big ideas. With a 4\u20136% average Facebook engagement rate (well above the industry average), 2,600+ loyal followers, and 45,000 monthly content views, we have an amazing, highly engaged audience of people who can\u2019t wait to learn more about you. When we feature you, your story, and your product\/service, it\u2019s like a friend\u2019s recommendation, because it is. Want to know more? Reach out to us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org We have a membership! Join the GST Club \u2014 a virtual support community built for those leading change in small-town America. For $30\/month, you\u2019ll get twice-monthly live calls with Rebecca, access to a private network of fellow small-town changemakers, replay recordings, frameworks, and early access to GST events. It\u2019s for anyone from volunteers and entrepreneurs to city officials who believe small towns deserve big ideas and better leadership. Part think-tank. Part pep-talk. Part creative jam session. All support.  We Want to Hear From You! We really, really do, and if you\u2019ll let us, we\u2019d love to feature your actual message just like we did with Terri\u2019s (with your permission, of course!) Some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we\u2019ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We\u2019re have two \u201cparticipation dance\u201d elements of the show: \u201cSmall town humblebrags\u201d: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small\u2014we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  \u201cSolving Your Small-Town People Challenges\u201d: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we\u2019ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We\u2019re suave like that.  If you\u2019ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can\u2019t wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode\/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week\u2019s episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!   ","author_name":"The Growing Small Towns Show","author_url":"https:\/\/growingsmalltowns.show","html":"