On Tuesday evening, October 15th, Heritage Ohio held their Annual Awards ceremony at the Midland Theatre in Newark, Ohio, as the opening of their annual conference. Over 100 nominations were received for 11 awards. The awards honor Ohio’s best projects, places, and people who create lasting impacts through historic preservation and community revitalization.
This year’s recipient of the Spirit of Main Street Award is the Reineke and Reinbolt families of Tiffin.
The Spirit of Main Street Award is presented to an individual that has shown outstanding leadership in revitalizing and preserving Ohio communities.
The downtown revitalization movement in Tiffin began in 2009, with Bill Reineke playing a key role in forming the Tiffin Tomorrow group, which developed a 124-item improvement plan. Bill and his brother Dan were pioneers, purchasing and renovating a downtown building to create high-end lofts, demonstrating the appeal of downtown living and spurring further investment. The Reineke-Reinbolt families have since invested in over 15 properties, each with unique features, preserving historical character while offering modern amenities.
The next generation also got involved, with Weston Reinbolt and his wife Suzie transforming a historic 12-unit building into popular rental lofts, while Dan Reineke II renovated several properties, including a former NAPA Auto Parts store, which now offers community meeting space. Dan and his wife Nikki renovated a four-story building that became the Tiffin Seneca Economic Partnership (TSEP) headquarters, supporting downtown's economic growth.
The family actively contributes to the downtown community by sponsoring Third Thursday events, organizing the St. Paddy’s Day 5K, and encouraging employee participation in community efforts.
Heritage Ohio prompts economic growth through the preservation and revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods across Ohio. Heritage Ohio is the designated statewide Ohio preservation partner with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Through saving the places that matter we can all build a community and live better. Learn more about how to get involved by visiting www.heritageohio.org.
