Writer / Allie Nash
Chris Owens is the new executive director of Noblesville Main Street and his passion for the city and its people make him the perfect candidate. A nonprofit organization charged with promoting and developing downtown Noblesville, Main Street has a small office on the south side of the square overlooking the historic city hall.
By way of background, Owens grew up just north of Anderson in Alexandria and later attended Anderson University where he majored in communications. If you recognize his name, or voice, it’s probably from his stint with the Indianapolis Colts where he helped with broadcast programming before and after games. Most recently, Owens was the executive director for the Indiana Park and Recreation Association.
Owens took over the position in August after one experience made him realize this was the job for him.
“I took over in an interim role/dual with my parks and rec job, and that was essentially before our largest annual event (Noblesville Street Dance),” said Owens. “I stepped in and helped the event chair on the day of the event. I had the honor of being on stage doing some announcements and introducing the mayor. That was really what kind of sold me on the position.”
Owens is not new to Noblesville though. He moved here with his wife, Maggie, in 2009, and now raises his two children, Wyatt and Caroline, in their historic downtown home. He was attracted to Noblesville because it reminded him of Alexandria, a small town with good family values and a close-knit community feel.
As for Noblesville’s Main Street, he wants to get more people aware of what they do. He said the group has been around for more than 20 years and hosts many events that people already go to, they just don’t realize they are Main Street events.
“We’re starting to tell our story as Noblesville Main Street more and more,” he said. “We have one of oldest farmers’ markets in Hamilton County, it’s been traditionally in the Riverview parking lot. People may have not known that was a Main Street program in the past, we’re starting to push that more and more and create an identity of who Main Street is.”
Other events and programs that Noblesville Main Street hosts include the First Fridays, the annual Street Dance, and the Duck Race that is now part of the White River Celebration. A few new events include the Beards and Brews Championships which coincided with “Movember” and the Thursday night market.
Owens also leads a branding initiative designed to attract a younger demographic to historic downtown shops and restaurants by blending “hipster” and “historic”: Hipstoric.
“Hipstoric started 2013 to embrace and honor court house square, but be open to trendy new things,” he said.
And he is excited about what is in store for Noblesville in 2015 and beyond.
“I think were on the verge of some very big things happening in Noblesville, not just with Main Street but there is a reinvigorated sense of pride with a lot of people down here,” said Owens. “But there is also some new opportunities for partnerships with people like the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Noblesville. We have all been in the same general area for years, but have struggled to find where the best fit for everyone is. I think we are on the verge of being able to find that.”
