Heart of Jasper

What Heart of Jasper does

Heart of Jasper is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Jasper, Indiana (headquartered at 610 Main Street), dedicated to downtown revitalization in Dubois County. Founded through the national Main Street America program and designated as a Main Street America affiliate in June 2021, the organization operates as the central coordinator of downtown activity — running recurring programming such as Alive After 5!, Downtown Chowdown, Shop and Sip, Music on Main, the Jasper Farmers' Market, and a calendar of 302 listed events. Its constituents are local merchants, residents, visitors, and prospective business owners in the downtown district.

The organization's core offerings are a suite of community programs and financial incentive vehicles rather than technology products. These include the Facade Grant Program (coordinated with the City of Jasper), the Downtown Activation Mini Grant, the New Business Incentive, the Business Expansion Grant, and the Genesis 12 Project, alongside community assets such as the Downtown Jasper Social District and Downtown Jasper Gift Cards. Supporting infrastructure consists of a Locable-hosted website (heartofjasper.org) with business directories (Shop, Dining), an Explore section, a community event calendar, a blog with 143 posts, business storytelling features, and email/newsletter subscription flows. In 2024, the organization merged with the Regional Organization of Jasper Area Churches (ROJAC), extending its programmatic footprint.

Heart of Jasper is funded through grants, donations, and sponsorships rather than commercial revenue; it does not sell products or services. Documented funding inflow is modest and episodic, anchored by a $15,000 Business Expansion Grant from the Old National Bank Foundation in 2025. The staff is small (1-10 employees), led by Director Kate Schwenk (the organization's first director, hired November 1) with a Board of Directors including Andy Smith and Sarah Smith James. Recognitions include the 2021 Main Street America Affiliate Designation at the national level. There are no identified AI/ML capabilities, patents, software products, or external technology integrations.

Name

Heart of Jasper

Legal name

Heart of Jasper

Website

https://heartofjasper.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Heart of Jasper is a 501(c)(3) non-profit in Jasper, Indiana, affiliated with Main Street America, that delivers downtown revitalization programs, grants, and community events for local merchants, residents, visitors, and prospective business owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Downtown revitalization
• Community development
• Small business support
• Main Street America affiliate
• Community event programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Jasper

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Heart of Jasper is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that revitalizes downtown Jasper, Indiana as a Main Street America affiliate. It administers grant programs (Facade Grant, Activation Mini Grant, Business Expansion Grant, Genesis 12 Project, New Business Incentive) for local businesses, organizes recurring community events (Alive After 5!, Downtown Chowdown, Shop and Sip, Music on Main, Farmers Market), and maintains a community website that serves as a business directory, event calendar, and resource hub for residents, visitors, and merchants.

Product overview

Heart of Jasper is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization focused on downtown revitalization in Jasper, Indiana, affiliated with Main Street America. The organization operates a community website platform that serves as the central hub for downtown Jasper activities, featuring business directories (Shop, Dining), an event calendar with 142+ events, grant programs (Facade Grant, Activation Mini Grant, Business Expansion Grant, Genesis 12 Project), and information resources for merchants and visitors. The organization does not offer technology products or SaaS offerings; rather, it functions as a community development entity providing programs and resources to support local businesses and downtown vitality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Facade Grant Program Grant program that provides financial incentives to building owners in downtown Jasper for facade and building exterior improvements, coordinated with the City of Jasper. Designed for downtown property owners and merchants seeking to improve building aesthetics and historic preservation.
• Downtown Activation Mini Grant Small grant program that provides funding to support downtown events and activations in downtown Jasper. Designed for merchants and community organizers seeking to host events that drive foot traffic and engagement.
• Business Expansion Grant Grant program that provides funding to support business expansion and growth in downtown Jasper. Administered by Heart of Jasper with funding from partners such as the Old National Bank Foundation.
• New Business Incentive Incentive program designed to attract prospective business owners and entrepreneurs to open businesses in downtown Jasper, reducing startup barriers and connecting them with available space and resources.
• Community Events Program Recurring community events including Alive After 5! (monthly First Fridays May-December), Downtown Chowdown, Shop and Sip, Music on Main, and the Jasper Farmers' Market. These events drive foot traffic to downtown merchants and create community engagement opportunities for residents and visitors.
• Heart of Jasper Website & Business Directory Community-focused website (heartofjasper.org) serving as the central hub for downtown Jasper activities. Features business directories (Shop, Dining), an event calendar with over 300 events, information about grant programs, and resources for merchants and visitors.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Main Street AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2021Heart of Jasper was formed as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization through the Main Street America nationwide organization. The affiliation provides proven methodology for downtown revitalization, access to resources, networking with other Main Street communities, and national recognition programs.
• City of JaspercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Jasper coordinates with Heart of Jasper on the Facade Grant Program, providing financial incentives for building improvements in the downtown district.
• ROJAC (Regional Organization of Jasper Area Churches)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeart of Jasper and ROJAC merged in 2024, combining resources and efforts to strengthen community programs and downtown revitalization.
• Visit Dubois CountymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborative partnership on community events and tourism initiatives including the 'Love Where You Live' Summer Challenge encouraging exploration of Dubois County attractions and businesses.
• Dubois County Visitor CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDubois County Visitor Center serves as a partner location for promoting downtown Jasper events and distributing Summer Challenge materials.
• Jasper ArtsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJasper Arts partners with Heart of Jasper on gallery exhibitions at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center and First Thursdays Opening Gallery Receptions.
• Downtown Jasper MerchantscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of downtown businesses that participate in Heart of Jasper events like Alive After 5!, Shop and Sip, and Downtown Chowdown to drive foot traffic and sales.
• Thyen-Clark Cultural CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-use cultural facility hosting Jasper Arts gallery exhibitions, community events, and workshops that complement downtown revitalization efforts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dubois Strong: Listed as a 'Get Involved' partner on Heart of Jasper's website, focused on economic and community development in Dubois County. Comparable as a peer economic-development nonprofit serving overlapping local stakeholders.
• City of Jasper, Indiana: Coordinates with Heart of Jasper on the Facade Grant Program and provides financial incentives for downtown building improvements. Comparable as a public-sector partner in the same downtown revitalization mission.
• Thyen-Clark Cultural Center: Multi-use cultural facility hosting Jasper Arts exhibitions, community events, and workshops that complement Heart of Jasper's downtown revitalization efforts. Comparable as a community-anchor institution in the same district.
• Jasper Arts: Partners with Heart of Jasper on gallery exhibitions at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center and First Thursdays Opening Gallery Receptions. Comparable as a cultural nonprofit driving foot traffic and programming in the same downtown district.
• Dubois County Visitor Center: Partner location promoting downtown Jasper events and distributing Heart of Jasper materials. Comparable as a community-facing visitor services entity in the same local market.
• Visit Dubois County: Active marketing partner with Heart of Jasper on community events and tourism initiatives including the 'Love Where You Live' Summer Challenge. Comparable as a destination promotion organization serving the same Jasper/Dubois County geography.

Regional players

• Indiana Main Street: Indiana's statewide Main Street program under which Heart of Jasper operates as an affiliate. Comparable as a state-level coordinator of downtown revitalization programs operating in a different tier but the same ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Main Street America: The national umbrella organization under which Heart of Jasper operates as a designated affiliate. Comparable as the broader programmatic network and methodology provider for downtown revitalization nonprofits nationwide.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HeartofJasperIN
• Facebookfacebook.com/HeartofJasperIN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heartofjasperin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Heart of Jasper