Ashtabula Downtown Development Association

06/17/2026

Before and after!

The sidewalks on the west side of Main Avenue have been finished! The construction team moved fast and we’re grateful to have a new sidewalk in place to help kick off the revitalization of Downtown Ashtabula.

A huge thank you to the City of Ashtabula for its work in obtaining the Appalachian Community Grant that made this project possible, as well as Catts Construction for taking on the work and making our area beautiful.

Progress has already started on the east side of the street. Please continue using caution while traveling downtown and remember parking is available at the KeyBank building.

06/12/2026

Meet the Ashtabula County District Library, a beloved community resource for over 200 years in Downtown Ashtabula! From books to movies, notary services to genealogy resources, and sewing machines to power tools, the Ashtabula County District Library has everything!

Beginning as a subscription service in 1813, the library was incorporated in 1896 as the Ashtabula Free Public Library, located on the northeast corner of Center and Elm Street. In 1901, Ashtabula was chosen by famed philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to receive funding for a new library, and along with proceeds from the estate of Ashtabula-native Maria Conklin, construction of a new library began in 1902, opening just one year later on West 44th Street.

Over the years, additions and improvements to the library took place and in 1990, during a renovation project, a fire broke out on the second floor, damaging the building extensively and forcing the library to relocate temporarily. The loss of books and the damage to the building made national news, prompting donations worldwide, including over 30,000 books, allowing the library to reopen in 1992.

Finally, in 2016, the Ashtabula County District Library expanded the existing building into what it looks like today, creating a modern space to better serve the local community. As one of the anchors in Downtown Ashtabula, the library plays an important role in the growth of the area by helping local residents, small businesses, and other organizations with a multitude of free resources.

The Ashtabula County District Library has a massive selection of items to borrow. More than just books, patrons can borrow movies, board games, musical instruments, blood pressure cuffs, hand and power tools, hobby sets, karaoke machines and much more! Free services include notary services, faxing, legal databases, study and meeting rooms, digital resources, and many more. And home delivery makes it easy for anyone to utilize the library!

Located at 4335 Park Ave in Downtown Ashtabula, the library is open Monday-Thursday from 9am-8:30pm, Friday from 9am-6pm and Saturday from 9am-4pm. Learn more about everything the Ashtabula County District Library has to offer at acdl.info and get your free library card today!

06/08/2026

Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 made its way through Ashtabula, Ohio today!🚂

06/05/2026

UP 4014 "Big Boy" is headed Downtown!

Union Pacific's famed Big Boy No. 4014, the world's largest operating steam locomotive, will journey to the East Coast this summer for the first time as part of a historic coast-to-coast tour to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. Of the 25 built, there are 8 remaining Big Boys in existence, with No. 4014 being the only one in operation. They are 133 ft. long and weigh in at 1.2 million pounds.

On June 8th, it will depart from a stop in Euclid at approximately 2:00 p.m. on its way to Conneaut where it will stay for the night and depart on June 9th. While we do not know the exact time it will come through the line which crosses Main Ave. near W. 48th St./Collins Blvd., we anticipate it will be between 2:45 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

We encourage people who want to get a glimpse of this historic locomotive to gather on W. 48th St. between Main Ave. and Park Ave. Currently, this section is under construction and closed to vehicular traffic. Please stay away from areas under construction.

If you are unable to attend, No. 4014 will travel back through Downtown on July 13th as it heads back west.

From the Union Pacific website:
Keep Safety Top of Mind
Stay back at least 25 feet from all railroad tracks. This includes drones.
Railroad tracks, trestles, yards and right of way are private property - do not trespass.
Never assume tracks are abandoned or inactive - ALWAYS expect a train.
Be a safe and considerate driver - do not pace the train.
Be Aware of the Environment.

*Photo from UP website

06/04/2026

Concrete has been poured and the sidewalks are progressing!

Thanks again to Catts Construction and the City of Ashtabula for the swift work on this project.

06/03/2026

None of this happens without the hard work of James Timonere, Ashtabula City Manager and his dedicated City of Ashtabula, Ohio - Municipal Government staff. Thank you for everything you do for Main Avenue and for this community. Huge thank you to Clay News 5 Cleveland for highlighting the progress. The momentum on Main Ave grows a little more each day!❤️

Crews kept busy along Main Avenue Tuesday afternoon, replacing much...

06/01/2026

Meet NEO Fund, an Ashtabula-based non-profit organization in the heart of Downtown Ashtabula right off of Main Ave! NEO Fund (New Entrepreneur Opportunity Fund) has been uplifting local businesses since 2011 through education and support for new, aspiring, and seasoned business owners.

If you've ever had a business idea but didn't know where to start, NEO Fund offers a wide range of resources to support local entrepreneurs. Whether you're thinking about launching something new or ready to take your existing small business to the next level, NEO Fund is there to help you with real education, one-on-one mentoring, financial resources, and a community network of like-minded and experienced entrepreneurs behind you.

NEO Fund offers numerous class opportunities throughout the year for varying levels of experience. For new or aspiring entrepreneurs, the introduction class, ‘So You Think You Want To Be An Entrepreneur?’ breaks down the ins and outs of business ownership. The ‘Fundamentals of Business’ multi-week course provides a practical overview and in-depth insights into running a business. NEO Fund even offers a Quickbooks course and a Business Plan Workshop. Every class is always free, open to anyone in any field, and led by seasoned instructor, Daryl Upole!

And the support doesn't stop in the classroom. NEO Fund proudly hosts Monthly Networking Meetings on the third Wednesday of each month, bringing small business owners together at different locations throughout the county to share challenges, celebrate wins, and hear from expert speakers. Mentorship and coaching programs bring the support even further.

This summer NEO Fund is teaming up with the City of Ashtabula, Ohio - Municipal Government to host Food Truck Monday’s at Smith Field to bring our robust food truck network to the community. Every Monday throughout the summer (weather permitting) up to 3 per week will be there starting today June 1st from 11am-7pm!

At the heart of it all is Executive Director Kelly Sposito, an Ashtabula entrepreneur herself who knows firsthand what it means to build something from the ground up. She's been part of the NEO Fund family for over a decade, and her passion for this community shows in everything the organization does.

NEO Fund is more than just a resource, it’s a partner to help any entrepreneur in any field grow and succeed. Learn more at neofund.org and take advantage of the free education and resources NEO Fund has to offer.

05/27/2026

What a parade! Thank you to everyone who joined us for the return of the Downtown Ashtabula Memorial Day parade🇺🇸 We’ll see you next year!

05/25/2026

Happy Memorial Day from the Ashtabula Downtown Development Association! Today, we honor those who sacrificed everything for our freedom.

We are so grateful to everyone who joined us Downtown for the return of the parade. Thank you to those who made both the parade and ceremony possible. It was wonderful to gather as a united community in Veteran’s Park to honor the fallen. Have a safe and happy holiday🇺🇸