Who is DMI?

A Healthy Downtown is Key to a Strong Community

We passionately believe our historic downtown is important because it is the heart of Middletown — and having a healthy heart is essential to having a strong hometown community and a strong city.

About Us

Downtown Middletown, Inc. (DMI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works to revitalize historic downtown Middletown and make it a beautiful, vibrant place for its citizens and visitors to socialize, exercise, enjoy the arts, shop, drink and dine.

Our Mission is to BUILD:

Build a vibrant community.
Unify Downtown’s businesses and organizations
Improve Downtown’s image and appearance
Leverage historical preservation
Develop a strong economic base

We are the only organization in Middletown solely focused on assisting and promoting the downtown area. We create programs, initiatives, and events to bolster our businesses and attract visitors (who spend money) downtown.

Our Work

All of DMI’s initiatives and programs are community-led and volunteer-driven, leveraging the passion and expertise of many talented individuals who love, live, or work here in Middletown, Ohio. In 2023 alone, DMI’s Board of Directors, staff and our army of volunteers have given over 4,084 hours of service, valued at more than $122,315 in support of Downtown.

Programs: Microloans, Takin it to the Streets Mural beautification in partnership with the Art Central Foundation, DORA, Grow with Google, new business onboarding
Initiatives: Seasonal Calendar campaigns like Very Merry Middletown, ribbon cuttings, DMI bucks
Events: First Fridays, Women’s Wine and Chocolate Walk, Small Business Saturday, Dog Days, Hocus Pocus Halloween, and Thunderfest. Plus, we’ve served as the fiscal agent for additional events including PRIDE, Hops in the Hangar, and Port Middletown Arts & Music Festival.