The Downtown Bellefontaine Partnership (DBP) is a group of downtown Bellefontaine business owners and supporters.
The DBP held its annual meeting and mixer at Bella Vino downtown Bellefontaine on Wednesday evening.
The event included a brief update on happenings for 2024 and a small update on leadership within the organization.
Ben Vollrath, President of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce, gave this statement about changes coming to the director role of the DBP, “At year-end, the Chamber and Downtown Bellefontaine Partnership (DBP) are wrapping up an initial 18-month agreement which created the Downtown Development Director (DDD) position. This role was established as a Chamber employee responsible for planning First Friday events, overseeing membership for the DBP, and leading the overall DBP organization. With the end of the agreement, the DDD position held by Micky Groves is coming to an end. Both the DBP and Chamber are committed to continuing to hold all the First Friday events in 2024 and other activities that drive business to the downtown. The organizations are working together to explore options for 2024 for a new hired role that will likely have some different responsibilities. During the transition, DBP volunteers will be carrying on the event planning.”
Outgoing President of the DBP board, Addy Passaro, and incoming President Andrea Wrocklage talk about the exciting energy that is happening downtown Bellefontaine:
The DBP is dedicated to making the downtown attractive for merchants to do business and individuals to shop, while striving to improve the quality and quantity of commerce, unifying the public and private sectors, and promoting historic preservation to enrich the cultural life of our community.
There are records of the “Downtown Betterment Association” existing in Bellefontaine back into the 1970s, but the current version of the Downtown Bellefontaine Partnership was founded in 2002.
The Downtown Bellefontaine Partnership Board includes:
- Outgoing President – Addy Pasarro, Owner of Homegrown Yoga
- Vice President/Incoming President – Andrea Wrockledge, Owner of Four Acre Clothing Company, Hi-Point Graphics and All Around Awards
- Second Vice President/Vice President – Jennifer Brewer Co-Founder & President of Prescription Bliss
- Secretary – Jessica Simmons, Financial Advisor, Aurora Wealth Advisors
- Treasurer – Jacob Schroeder, CEO/Founder Ascend Consulting, LLC
- Taylor Allison – Mary Rutan Health
- Mark Robinson – Logan County Commissioner
- Wes Dodds – City of Bellefontaine
- Ben Vollrath – Logan County Chamber
- Matt Chamberlain – Smith Smith Montgomery and Chamberlain
- Ron Troyer – Roundhouse Depot Brewing Co
- Kris Swisher – Holland Theatre
- Kevin Greenwald– First Christian Church
- Brandy Miller – Relax Nail Bar
- Nick Davis – Small Nation
- Lori Newman – Fathom Realty
- Laura Haverkos – The Flying Pepper Cantina
- Justin Dinovo – Citizens Federal Savings & Loan
Most famously the DBP hosts First Fridays, monthly events in downtown Bellefontaine.
First Fridays happens the first Friday of every month and offers free and paid family events to the community.
It encourages people to support the businesses downtown and enjoy time together as a community.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the DBP, you do not have to be a business owner exclusively located downtown, but rather a supporter of the organization and its members.
Click HERE for more information.
Interested in what’s next for the DBP, find out HERE.
