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
Each week this Women's History Month, Main Street America is spotlighting the stories of women leaders in local and coordinating Main Street programs. Women have played a critical role in the Main Street movement from the beginning, and many programs today are led by thoughtful and dedicated women who are making real change in their communities. Although they come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, each of these women are passionate about community preservation and economic revitalization, and we hope their stories inspire your work as well!
Amy Hansen, Executive Director – Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership (WI)
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After 15 years in corporate retail, Amy sought a career change that would allow her to make change in her community. Her most rewarding achievement was finding new ownership for the a boutique hotel in her district. “Community revitalization is not an overnight process,” she emphasized. “Projects can take years, but there will be many smaller wins along the way, and the desire to see those projects come to completion is what will drive you on a daily basis.”
Emily Fetko, Acting CEO – Erie Downtown Partnership (PA)
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“Service to community has always been a part of who I am,” says Emily on why she was attracted to Main Street. “If I can help someone have a better experience or solve someone's problem that gives me a big sense of pride.” She began her career helping with grassroots efforts to form a Main Street program in Oil City, PA, and when she moved to Erie, she quickly became involved there as well. She encourages other women to bring their unique perspectives to the movement: “with the great exodus of women leaving the workforce, Main Street provides a unique opportunity for women to help shape an entrepreneurial and economic ecosystem that attracts more women back into the workforce.”
Charmeine Wait, Executive Director – Silver City MainStreet (NM)
Charmeine worked in a variety of different nonprofit roles before coming to Main Street, including a women’s fiber collective and a local history museum. She sees passion, time management, and thick skin as key qualities for Main Street leaders. She encourages interested women to attend the Main Street Now conference and other educational opportunities. Take those pearls of wisdom and great project ideas back to your community,” she said. “Communicate, communicate and communicate to get partners to collaborate with who can help with improving your community.”
Kim Lane, Director – Pigtown Main Street (MD)
Kim finds her purpose in the little moments of her job, like “children getting Halloween pictures along our Main Street, neighbors enjoying food and drinks together and families making crafts at our local art store or reading at our bookstore.” One of her proudest achievements was their COVID-19 programming, which included direct grants, e-commerce support, and a ‘PigBucks’ promotional program. She is proud of the supportive environment she has found among other female leaders in Main Street, saying “we don't compete, we collaborate. We know that communities are stronger when they value everyone.”
Abby Huff, Outreach and Organization Manager – Indiana Main Street
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Abby felt the power of Main Street historic commercial districts from a young age and set out to make a career in this field. After graduating with her MFA in Historic Preservation, she worked at various rural and mid-sized Main Street programs before landing her current role with the Indiana coordinating programs. “One of the aspects of the job I loved the most was being a mentor for other new Main Street Directors and assisting in Business retention so when the Indiana Main Street Organization and Outreach position opened up I knew it was my next stop in my Main Street career,” she said. She encourages female leaders to support each other; “rely on other women who are going to lift you up and tell you that you are doing an amazing job!”
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Ostego, MI
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Boyne City, MI © Michigan Main Street
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© Jenny Boulware
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Sheridan, WY © Downtown Sheridan Association
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Sheridan, WY © Downtown Sheridan Association
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Washington, D.C. © Rizka
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Vancouver, WA © Vancouver Downtown Association
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Florence, SC © Downtown Florence Main Street Program
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Cleveland, OH © DJ Johnson
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Vancouver, WA © Vancouver Downtown Association
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Metuchen, NJ © Lauren Beischer
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Laramie, WY © Main Street America
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Alton, IL © Alton Main Street
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Toccoa, GA © Steph Maley
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Orlando, FL © Tyla Harrington
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Chicago, IL © Main Street America
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Washington, IA © Kathy La Plante
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Florence, SC © True Light Photography
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A Statewide Movement Improving West Virginia Main Streets
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Downtown Ames hosted a festival for the 46th annual RAGBRAI race (The Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa).
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Main Street Homer (Homer, Louisiana) was awarded a $25,000 A Community Thrives social impact grant from Gannett/USA Today Network to create an arts center with affordable artist studios and classroom/event space.
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Since starting as Executive Director, Todd has helped the organization achieve Virginia Main Street Designation Status and national Accreditation.
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We rolled out four new Main Street America videos highlighting the power of the Main Street movement, Main Street Approach, economic impact of Main Street, and the incredible volunteers that make Main Street's grassroots network so effective.
Community Spotlight: Ridgefield Main Street
Ridgefield Main Street is an energetic, up-and-coming Washington Main Street program located just north of Vancouver, Washington.
Want to do something big? Start small.
A series of small, incremental improvements, when taken together, provide momentum for long-term economic transformation and improved quality of life in a community.
Michigan Main Street Refresh Implementation: The Refresh from Our Communities’ Perspective
Here's a bit of background on each of the communities. Read on for the Refresh Implementation Q&A.
Announcing the 2017 Great American Main Street Award Winners
The National Main Street Center, Inc. announced the 2017 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) during its annual conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Reality of Main Street — Letter from the President
The National Main Street Center and the Brookings Institution have jointly authored a response to Mr. Hyman’s piece, The Reality of Main Street, that is featured on Brookings’ blog.
Michigan Main Street Refresh Implementation: Our Process and Lessons Learned So Far
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.
