“There are great things happening here, and I’m excited to be a part of it.””

Fayette Main Street, Inc., on Friday, announced that local business owner and Chamber president, Cana Conrow, will serve as the organization’s next Executive Director. 

Mrs. Conrow owns and operates Gold Apple Boutique, a retail clothing store on the south side of the courthouse square and serves as President of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce.

Main Street has been without a dedicated director since Mike Dimond resigned in December to become manager of Bee’s Knees Taproom at the Nest. Board Vice President Cara Owings has served as Executive Director in an interim manner.

 “Having Cana join the organization is a win for everyone,” said Main Street Board President Deanna Cooper. “She has a passion for Fayette, and we are looking forward to a bright future with her leadership.”

Mrs. Conrow is a lifelong resident of Fayette. She and her husband, Kyle, are raising two young boys and are all active members of the community. She will continue to operate Gold Apple Boutique while taking on new responsibilities as Main Street’s Executive Director.

“The board has been super supportive of me as a mom and as a business owner,” she said.

Mrs. Conrow recently spearheaded the effort to re-establish the Fayette Chamber of Commerce and has been an active member of the CID Board. She announced on Friday she will step down as Chamber President by the end of April as she steps into her new role with Main Street.

Being a member of the CID board and re-establishing the Chamber has given Mrs. Conrow an inside view of the processes involved with economic development and community revitalization. She said this is an opportunity for all organizations to work together.

“Mike (Dimond) and I really worked to collaborate and to make sure those organizations were moving together in the same direction,” she said about Main Street’s relationship with the Chamber. “We understood they had common goals and interests. It’s really what’s best for Fayette. We’ve got to do it together.”

Fayette Main Street, Inc. is recognized as a leading program among the national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities that share a commitment to creating high-quality places and building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.

“Fayette is home. It is a growing and thriving community,” said Mrs. Conrow. “There are great things happening here, and I’m excited to be a part of it. I look forward to working alongside the Fayette Main Street Board of Directors and volunteers as we continue the revitalization and community engagement efforts through the Main Street approach.”

Fayette Main Street also has a new office at 207 N. Main Street in the Main Street Plaza, behind Landon Ball State Farm Insurance. It allows for meeting space and easy access to the downtown area when needed. Office hours will be posted on Main Street’s website. Main Street previously operated out of the historic Uriel Wright Building, owned by the Fayette Area Heritage Association. In the future, Main Street plans to open a dedicated office in the old Village Place location along North Main Street. The renovation of that building is part of a larger development project along the block of North Main Street leading to the south entrance of Central Methodist University.