Board Spotlight: Meet Main Street America’s Three New Board Members
We are excited to welcome Lynda Tran, Tyrone Rachal, and Mary Helmer Wirth to the Main Street America Board of Directors
The Main Street America Board of Directors is thrilled to announce the appointment of Erin Barnes as our next President and CEO. Erin was approved unanimously by the board and will begin her tenure on September 18. Her appointment comes after an extensive search process led by staff and a board-led transition task force with guidance from Koya Partners, a leading executive search firm.
“After months of vetting, interviews, and deliberation, we are delighted that we identified such a strong and dynamic leader to serve Main Street America in its next phase as an organization and movement,” said Darryl Young, MSA Board Chair. “Erin has a proven track record of mobilizing change-makers and driving meaningful impact in communities across the country over the course of her career.”
Most recently Erin served as co-founder and CEO of ioby, an online civic crowdfunding platform that focuses on connecting local leaders with support and funding to make their neighborhoods better places to live. During her 15 years there, Erin helped to raise nearly $20 million for over 3,500 projects across the nation ranging from public art installations to civic infrastructure improvements.
"I'm honored to join this fantastic organization and carry on the excellent foundations built by outgoing President and CEO Patrice Frey and Interim President and CEO Hannah White,” said Barnes. “And I'm so looking forward to learning about America's Main Streets by getting to know the people that support these critical civic and cultural places."
In 2018, Erin was named an inaugural Obama Foundation Fellow for ioby’s contribution to civic innovation. In 2012, the Rockefeller Foundation awarded Erin and her co-founders at ioby the Jane Jacobs Medal for New Technology and Innovation. Prior to her time at ioby, Erin was an environmental writer with a background in water management and a community organizer. Erin holds a B.A. in English and American Studies from the University of Virginia and a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University.
“Aside from her many accomplishments, Erin's entrepreneurial mindset, demonstrated ability to collaborate with a diverse set of stakeholders, and commitment to advancing racial equity and inclusion, make her ideally suited to lead the next chapter of Main Street America,” said Young. “Please join me in giving her a warm welcome when she starts in September.”
The Board would like to express sincere gratitude to Hannah White, MSA’s Interim President and CEO, who led the organization through this time of transition over the past year. Hannah will be continuing in a leadership role at Main Street America, working closely alongside Erin.
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Michigan Main Street Center was the first Coordinating Program to implement the new Main Street approach on a large scale. In this article, they share their robust process and valuable lessons.
The Reality of Main Street
There is another way for smaller communities to compete in today’s economy and we believe a strong main street strategy is at the heart of it.
The Myth of Main Street? Letter from the President
Letter from past MSA President, Patrice Frey
The Lowdown in Downtown LaBelle
Fritz the dog has made his way into the hearts of the residents of LaBelle, Florida, and helped our Main Street Community find a way to make what we do more noticeable.
Strategic Planning Through Transformation Strategies – Saline, Michigan
Back in October 2015, we introduced the three key components of the refreshed Main Street Approach: inputs, outputs and Community Transformation Strategies.
Revitalization and Main Street Transformation
For a lucky few downtowns, greatness may happen effortlessly with a strong sense of place that seems to develop organically and simply sustain itself. For most places, success doesn’t happen by chance.
Revisit Your Community’s Unique Assets: Connecting Asset-Based Economic Development to Community Transformation Strategies
This need for change results from the heavy emphasis on three components of the refreshed Main Street Approach.
The 2016 Great American Main Street Award Winners
The 2016 winners are a diverse group in geography and character, but together demonstrate the broad applicability of the Main Street Approach:
Main Street Nation Radio
The first official show under the Main Street Nation banner aired in June 2015 on WJR-760 AM Detroit.
The Path To The Future
The economic value of historic preservation on Main Street.
Refresh Demonstration Project Sites: Learning Labs for the Updated Main Street Approach
A series of demonstration projects providing the opportunity to test new strategies on the ground, learn from practitioners, and refine the approach.
Why Business Retention and Expansion Plans are Important for Downtowns
A business retention and expansion plan, properly implemented, not only helps keep businesses open but possibly even helps them expand.
Wisconsin Main Street: 27 Years of People, Places and Progress
While there have been over $1.2 billion in public and private investment in Wisconsin Main Street communities over the past 27 years, what really makes it special are the people and places that have been involved.
Pop-Up Art Tour
Main Street Bartow's empty storefronts become pop-up art galleries to promote economic development.
A Walk Through Rehoboth Beach Main Street
Although a “beach town,” Rehoboth Beach is open 365 days a year, and with that has the unique challenge of catering to both year-round residents and tourists within a wide range of ages, interests and economic levels
Independent We Stand Makes Main Streets a Priority
In communities across the country, hardworking business owners and buy local advocates come together to foster an organized effort to reinvent and revitalize Main Streets and downtown districts.
Announcing the 2015 Great American Main Street Award Winners
The National Main Street Center is pleased to announce that Cape Girardeau, Mo., Montclair Center, N.J., and Rawlins, Wyo. were selected as the 2015 Great American Main Street Award® (GAMSA) winners.
