Main Street Bowling Green has returned to its roots and changed its name to Downtown Bowling Green.
Main Street Bowling Green has renewed its focus on serving the needs of the downtown property owners and merchants. The name change symbolizes the rededication and reflects a return to the organization's roots.
Formed as the Downtown Business Association in the early 1980s, the organization operated under that name until 1999. When it became a member of Heritage Ohio, a statewide historic preservation organization, it changed its name to Main Street Bowling Green.
With its focus on revitalization and preservation, the state organization's goals were closely aligned with those of the local group, and the relationship was mutually beneficial. But over the years, Main Street Bowling Green evolved differently than Heritage Ohio and other local groups. The structural differences, coupled with an increase in the cost of membership and the difficult economy, led to the conclusion that membership in Heritage Ohio no longer served the needs of downtown Bowling Green.
"This was a difficult decision to make," said Floyd Craft, chairman of the board of trustees, "because we have had a good working relationship with Heritage Ohio. But membership in the state organization requires a lot of time and we really want to focus on our local needs. So we think this is a positive step."

Downtown BG remains dedicated to preserving the historic heart of the city, while supporting and expanding the robust community of merchants, professionals, restaurants and gathering places that are located in the downtown.
Downtown BG is a non profit organization funded by a self-initiated tax on downtown property owners. Its mission is to serve as a liaison with government offices, Bowling Green State University, other merchants and the media. Downtown BG strives to enhance and stabilize the economic vitality of the central business district through long-term improvement projects and ongoing promotional and maintenance activities.
The annual ArtWalk! and Classics on Main Car Show are two of the events hosted by Downtown BG, which also collaborates on several other community events, including the Black Swamp Arts Festival. Downtown BG operates the Downtown Dollars gift certificate program, and provides landscape and sidewalk maintenance services year round including snow removal, litter control, and the maintenance of landscape plantings.