Briefing one
Two deadlines every small town is facing
The April 2028 web accessibility rule, what cyber insurers now require before they renew, and the path through both.
View the slides (opens in a new window)Your Trusted Advisor for Funding, Growth, and Community Progress
Civic & Main helps small towns, cities, counties, businesses, and nonprofits find funding, solve problems, and move important projects forward.
We provide practical, hands-on support with grant research and writing, community branding and marketing, public relations, business and nonprofit development, financing, municipal operations, recruiting businesses for vacant buildings, and strategic planning.
Whether you need help securing funding, launching a project, growing your organization, or navigating a challenge, Civic & Main gives you one experienced partner and a clear path forward.
Fixed fees. Quoted up front. No surprises.
Call or text (812) 561-7500 or email info@civicandmain.com.
Cities & towns
Grant research and writing, with federal and state grants handled alongside your local grant administrator. A town brand, website, and marketing that bring in visitors, residents, and businesses. Public relations, business recruitment for vacant buildings, and project tracking a council can actually read.
Town services and packagesBusinesses & nonprofits
Marketing that produces customers, financial planning that produces profit, financing packages lenders approve, and a grants pipeline that keeps funders coming back.
Business and nonprofit packagesIndiana Grant Finder
Search grant programs for Indiana cities, towns, townships, counties, and nonprofits. Answer a few questions about your project and get a starting list of state, federal, and private funding to research, with the terms, timing, and official source for each. It takes about two minutes, and no contact information is required.
Examples, not an exhaustive list. These are examples of some Indiana grants. Not all grants and funding paths are listed, and details change, so confirm each program with the funder.
The Briefing Room
Six fifteen-minute presentations for councils, boards, chambers, and business owners. Read them here, or ask for one at your next meeting at no charge.
Briefings are general information to help you plan. They are not legal, tax, or financial advice, so confirm the details for your situation with your attorney, accountant, or the agency involved.
Briefing two
Grants for small towns
Where the money is for a town this size, what makes a project fundable, and what the award requires after the check arrives.
View the slides (opens in a new window)Briefing three
The 2029 local income tax reset
How Indiana's 2025 property tax law changes the money coming to towns, cities, counties, and townships, and what to do before the 2028 decisions.
View the slides (opens in a new window)Briefing four
Growing the tax base
TIF, annexation, and the other economic development tools a town under 10,000 can actually use, and which one fits which situation.
View the slides (opens in a new window)Briefing five
Grants and fundraising for small nonprofits
A grants pipeline and a fundraising year for an organization where the director is also the development office.
View the slides (opens in a new window)Briefing six
Getting financed, and getting ready to sell
What lenders need to say yes in 2026, where the money is when the bank says no, and why exit planning starts years before the sale.
View the slides (opens in a new window)What we do
Six practice areas, one point of contact.
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Grants and funding
Research and applications, with a clear plan for who does what on every grant.
- Indiana Grant Finder: search example grant programs by county and project type
- Opportunity research ranked for your project
- Foundation, corporate, and nonprofit applications, and Indiana's CreatINg Places crowdfunding match
- Grant readiness: cost estimates, letters of support, and the documents funders ask for
- Federal and state grants: project development and coordination with your local grant administrator
How federal and state grants work with us. Civic & Main does not administer federal or state grants. Many of those programs, including Indiana's CDBG grants through OCRA, must be submitted and administered by a certified grant administrator, often your regional development commission. We work alongside them: we help shape the project, gather what they need, and keep your council informed. They prepare, submit, and administer the application and the award.
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Marketing, public relations, and growth
For businesses, and for the towns and cities they call home.
- Community brand and marketing launches: brand, website, video, photography, and social media
- Community marketing for towns: business attraction, tourism, and new residents
- Social media management and website upkeep
- Market research, positioning, and expansion planning
- Ad creative and campaign management
- Public relations plans: who you need to reach, what to say, and how to say it
- Handling public relations: press releases, media relations, and community communications
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Municipal operations
Management help for towns that run lean.
- Project management
- Business recruitment: finding businesses to fill vacant buildings and storefronts
- Blight tracking programs, from property inventory to follow-up
- Economic development strategy and downtown revitalization
- Budget, operations, and debt reviews, with savings ideas
- Strategic and comprehensive planning support
- Capital improvement and asset management plans
- Annexation studies and fiscal plans
- Establishing and administering TIF districts
- Procurement and RFP support
- AI in city management: where it fits, how to adopt it safely, and a staff AI policy
- Process improvement for permits, records requests, and citizen inquiries
- Council briefings and research on hard local issues
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Business finance and transitions
Plans and numbers a lender will say yes to, at every stage of a business.
- Financial planning and profit improvement
- SBA loan packaging, debt restructuring, and alternative financing
- Starting a new business: plan, structure, and funding
- Exit strategy and preparing a business for sale
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Nonprofit development
A grants pipeline and fundraising program sized for a small staff.
- Grant calendar and applications
- Annual appeals and giving-day campaigns
- Board fundraising training and donor communications
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Security and auditing
Assessments and plans from someone with a defense security background, not a sales rep.
- Cybersecurity and website security audits
- Incident response planning and handling
- Public statements and media communications after an incident
- Continuity planning and cyber-insurance readiness
- Website accessibility audits (WCAG 2.1 AA) and remediation plans
Accessibility audits cover websites and apps only, not buildings or facilities.
Packages
Each monthly package puts a set amount of working time behind your priorities, with a written scope so everyone knows exactly what is included. Every package is a fixed monthly fee, quoted in writing after the free consultation.
- Written scopeWhat we will deliver each month, agreed before you sign.
- Monthly call and reportA standing call and a written report of the hours worked and what got done.
- Shared project boardEvery task, deadline, and grant in one place you can check any time.
- Direct linePhone, text, and email, with replies within one business day.
- Flexible termsMonth to month, with 30 days' notice by either party.
Cities and towns
A fractional grants, marketing, and economic development team for towns that cannot fund full-time staff. Townships and counties use the same plans, scaled to fit.
One-time project · about 90 days
Community Brand and Marketing Launch
The fastest way to give your town a finished look and a story people can find. We build the brand, the website, and every marketing piece in one project, so visitors, new residents, and new businesses all see the same town.
Most towns follow the launch with the Town Partner plan, which keeps the website, social media, and business outreach going.
- A town brand: logo, tagline, colors, and a brand guide local businesses can use too
- A new website built around living in, moving to, and doing business in your town
- A promotional video package for the website, social media, and presentations
- Professional photography, including drone aerials of downtown, parks, and landmarks
- A visit with every business in town, with a showcase profile for each one
- Property marketing: pages and flyers for available homes, lots, and commercial buildings
- A full social media package: refreshed accounts, branded templates, and a 90-day launch calendar
- The “Proud to Be in [Your Town]” business kit: window decal artwork, a digital badge, a QR counter card, ready-made posts, a Getting Found Online guide, grant and financing resources, and a direct line to Civic & Main
Monthly plans
Town Advisor
About 10 hours of work a month
For towns that want a funding scout and a steady advisor on call.
Grants and funding
- Monthly funding scan matched to your project list
- A grant calendar with deadlines, match requirements, and what each project still needs to compete
- Project readiness reviews, so cost estimates and letters of support are lined up before deadlines
- Coordination with your local grant administrator on federal and state programs
Marketing and public relations
- A monthly news release or community feature
- Advice and a ready statement when a story breaks
Council support
- Quarterly council briefing on funding, projects, and issues ahead
- Short research answers on council questions
- Phone and email access for council members and staff
Recommended for most towns
Town Partner
About 20 hours of work a month
A working partner on grants, marketing, and business growth, without adding staff.
Everything in Town Advisor, plus:
Grants and funding
- At least one full grant application a quarter, researched and written by us
- Federal and state project development alongside your grant administrator
- CreatINg Places crowdfunding campaigns for placemaking projects
Marketing, PR, and tourism
- Social media management for the town's pages
- Website upkeep: news, events, and business listings kept current
- Tourism ideas and promotion for events, attractions, and visitors
- Public relations, including fast response when news breaks
Business growth
- Promotion of existing businesses through features and campaigns
- Recruitment of businesses for vacant buildings and storefronts
- Help for new business owners getting started in town
Operations and finance
- A blight tracking program for problem properties, from inventory to follow-up
- Review of town operations, budgets, and debt, with savings ideas
- A project tracking dashboard the council can read at a glance
Council support
- One council or board meeting a month
- On call for council members' questions
Fractional Director
About 40 hours of work a month
Your grants and economic development lead, for towns running several projects at once.
Everything in Town Partner, plus:
Grants and funding
- As many applications as your project list supports
- A multi-year funding strategy tied to your capital improvement plan
Economic development
- Economic development strategy and a downtown revitalization plan
- Outreach to developers, site selectors, and prospective businesses
- TIF district setup and annexation studies when they fit
Operations and planning
- Procurement and RFP support
- Strategic and comprehensive planning support
- A staff AI policy and guidance on using AI in town operations
- Annual cybersecurity assessment and continuity plan
Council support
- Regular on-site office hours, scheduled with your town
- A written report for every council meeting
Businesses
For owner-run companies that need marketing, finance, and growth handled without three separate vendors.
Growth Starter
About 10 hours of work a month
For owners who need a marketing rhythm and a regular look at the numbers.
Strategy
- Monthly strategy session with the owner
Marketing
- A marketing calendar planned a month ahead
- Four ad or social media creatives a month
- Google Business Profile and online listings kept current
- A monthly results recap in plain language
Finance
- Quarterly financial review of margins, pricing, and cash flow
- A short list of profit improvements each quarter
Recommended for most businesses
Growth Partner
About 20 hours of work a month
For businesses ready to grow customers and profit at the same time.
Everything in Growth Starter, plus:
Strategy
- Two working sessions a month
Marketing and public relations
- Eight creatives a month and social media posting
- One managed ad campaign on Google, Facebook, or local media
- Email or text promotions to your customer list
- Press releases and local media for openings, expansions, and milestones
Finance and financing
- Monthly financial dashboard and profit review
- Cash flow forecast and pricing review
- Financing readiness, with SBA or lender packaging when you need it
Growth
- Market research for a new product, service, or location
- Annual website security check
Fractional Executive
About 40 hours of work a month
A part-time executive for marketing, finance, and the next big move.
Everything in Growth Partner, plus:
Leadership
- A weekly working session
- Support for leadership and staff meetings
Marketing
- Full marketing execution across channels: campaigns, content, events, and PR
Finance
- Budgets, cash management, and lender relationships
- Debt restructuring and alternative financing options
Growth and transitions
- Expansion planning for new markets or locations
- Exit planning and sale readiness, years ahead of the sale
- Security assessment, incident response, and continuity plan
Nonprofits
Built for organizations where the director is also the development office.
Funding Foundations
About 10 hours of work a month
For small organizations starting a steady grants habit.
Grants
- Monthly grant opportunity list matched to your programs
- A grant calendar with deadlines and requirements
- One letter of inquiry or small application a month
Donors
- Donor letter templates: thank-you, appeal, and year-end giving statements
- Quarterly check-in with your director and board chair
Recommended for most nonprofits
Development Partner
About 20 hours of work a month
For organizations ready to grow and diversify their funding.
Everything in Funding Foundations, plus:
Grants
- One major application a quarter, plus smaller ones
- A case for support and program descriptions written once and reused everywhere
- CreatINg Places crowdfunding campaigns for eligible projects
Fundraising
- One campaign a year, designed and run: an annual appeal or giving day
- Social media and newsletter content for donors
- Donor database setup and cleanup
Board
- Annual board fundraising training
Fractional Development Director
About 40 hours of work a month
A part-time development director for a full grants and fundraising program.
Everything in Development Partner, plus:
Grants
- A full grants pipeline: research, writing, and submission
- Donor and funder updates drafted for your review
Fundraising
- Campaign and event support, from galas to capital campaigns
- Major donor strategy and stewardship plans
Board and planning
- A monthly board report
- Strategic plan and fundraising plan support
Fixed-fee projects
For a single need, or as a first engagement before a monthly plan. Each project is scoped and quoted in writing, half up front and half on delivery.
Towns and cities
- Community Brand and Marketing Launch
- Grant research report for your project list
- Grant application: foundation, corporate, or CreatINg Places
- Federal or state grant project development, with your local grant administrator
- Promotional video and photo library
- Business recruitment for vacant buildings
- Blight tracking program setup
- Project or department tracking system
- Public relations plan
- Budget, operations, and debt review
- Annexation fiscal plan
- TIF district setup
- Municipal issue research brief
Businesses
- New-business startup plan
- SBA or financing package
- Market research report
- Marketing plan and campaign launch
- Public relations plan
- Exit strategy and sale readiness
Nonprofits
- Grant research report
- Grant application
- Case for support and program descriptions
- Annual appeal or giving-day campaign
- Board fundraising training
- Donor database setup
Security and compliance
- Cybersecurity assessment
- Website security audit
- Continuity and incident response plan
- Cyber-insurance readiness review
- Website accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA) audit with remediation plan
Grant work is never priced as a percentage of the award.
How an engagement starts
Free 30-minute consultation
You describe the problem. We tell you what we would do first and what it would cost.
Written proposal in three business days
Scope, fixed fee, timeline, and what you get at the end.
Fixed-fee first project
An audit, an application, or a plan. Half up front, half on delivery.
Retainer, if it makes sense
Most clients move to a monthly package after the first project. Some never need to.
Meet the team
Jake Thatcher
Founder and Principal Consultant
Jake Thatcher is an entrepreneur and civic advisor based in Linton, Indiana. Over more than 20 years he has founded and grown technology companies, advised businesses across a range of industries, and worked alongside city councils, county governments, township boards, and nonprofit boards on funding, projects, and the problems that do not fit neatly into anyone's job description.
On the business side, he founded Node 1 Technology, named Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year in 2013 and later acquired, and has founded several ventures since. Owners come to him for marketing that produces customers, financial planning that produces profit, financing packages that lenders approve, and a plan for what comes next, whether that is a new business, a new market, or a sale.
On the civic side, his recent projects include writing grants and providing project management for a community swimming pool renovation, and advising on the preservation of a historic gym. Several more projects are currently in the works. He has also redeveloped downtown buildings and advised city and county officials on economic development and infrastructure questions.
His information security background comes from the Department of Defense, where he obtained his CISSP certification. He brings that discipline to cybersecurity assessments, website audits, and continuity planning for towns and businesses that cannot afford to learn those lessons the hard way.
Jake holds a business degree in Management Information Systems from Indiana State University's Scott College of Business. He works on fixed fees, takes on only the projects he would take on for his own town, and lives in the kind of community he serves.
Amanda Thatcher
Operations and administration
Amanda Thatcher brings ten years in Indiana state government and years of running businesses of her own. After a decade with the State of Indiana, she left to found Green Geek Electronics Recycling, which recycled hundreds of tons of electronic waste that would otherwise have gone to landfills. She went on to build and run successful retail and food businesses.
That background gives her an operator's view of what a business or a public project actually takes: the storefront, the staffing, the systems, and the marketing that fills the door. She has a particular gift for designing and creating spaces, and for seeing what a building or a block could become and turning that vision into a plan.
At Civic & Main, Amanda runs administration and works with business and municipal clients on planning, storefront and space design, marketing plans, and project delivery.
Start with a free consultation
Thirty minutes, no obligation. Tell us what you are working on and we will tell you what we would do first.
Prefer to call or text?
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Where we work
Civic and Main, LLC is based in Linton, Indiana and works with clients across the Midwest, on site and remotely, including Greene, Sullivan, Daviess, Knox, Clay, Owen, Monroe, and Vigo counties and communities throughout Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky.