SIDNEY — “We are official,” said Amy Breinich, executive director of Sidney Alive! “Our efforts over the past 18 months – creating a board of trustees, applying for and receiving 501(c)3 status and all of the planning has brought us to this exciting point.”

Formerly operating as the Downtown Sidney Business Association in partnership with the Sidney-Shelby Chamber, Sidney Alive! was created to operate with an expanded role and purpose. As a 501(c)3 charitable organization, Sidney Alive! has made its mission “To nurture the growth of downtown Sidney while preserving our resources, increasing accessibility and benefiting the Shelby County Community.”

“Our ability to grow the organization’s income potential by applying for grants, and other funding, while allowing individuals and businesses to support us with tax deductible gifts is something we could not do before,” said Linda Stewart, Sidney Alive! president.

The new organization will focus on downtown business advocacy; event and activity planning; marketing properties for sale or lease and making alternative funding such as state and federal grants available.

“We have a strong board with years of experience in business and finance, and they have the enthusiasm to see our mission accomplished because they simply love downtown Sidney and all it has to offer our community,” said Michael Jannides, of Sidney Alive! vice president.

Currently, the organization is soliciting area businesses and individuals for monetary pledges towards its fundraising campaign. These gifts are tax deductible and will help enhance the health and vitality of downtown Sidney as a great place to live, work and shop. Fore more information, contact Breinich at [email protected].