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
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Main Street America’s UrbanMain Program is in a multi-year contract with the City of Chicago to provide training and technical assistance to commercial corridor managers participating in the city’s INVEST South/West program, which recently hit a two-year milestone.
Initiated in the fall of 2019 and supported by more than $750 million in public funding, INVEST South/West is targeting the commercial corridors of 10 Chicago neighborhoods with focused improvements that include new, mixed-use construction projects, the adaptive reuse of historic buildings, new plazas, small business grants, related public realm improvements, and Main Street America training and technical assistance. Main Street America has worked with the local community partners to develop tools and resources that will help restore neighborhood vitality and provide a healthy business ecosystem for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs.
To date, Main Street America has provided training and technical assistance through the UrbanMain program for eight commercial corridor manager organizations working in six corridors in the south and west sides on the city. One of the commercial corridor manager organizations is the Austin African American Business Networking Association (AAABNA), responsible for the Chicago Avenue commercial corridor in the Austin neighborhood.
Malcolm Crawford, the executive director shared with us: “I really enjoy being a part of the Main Street America’s UrbanMain Family. It has helped us to understand that we are not alone. That there are many around the country that have undertaken the same task to make their Main Street the show piece or window to their community.”
Andrea Reed, Executive Director of Greater Roseland Chamber of Commerce, an INVEST South/West community, is looking forward to working with UrbanMain to continue to grow their district. “We have only just begun to implement the proven strategic plan within our corridor manager programming. UrbanMain is a great fit for our commercial corridors because it is our goal to improve economic growth, transform, revitalize, and preserve the historic presence throughout our corridors which specifically matches the proven goals UrbanMain has historically accomplished throughout the country.”
This past November marked the two-year anniversary of the launch of the INVEST South/West initiative and was celebrated with an event gathering different stakeholders involved.
In 2022, at least five additional commercial corridors will be onboarded to receive Main Street America technical assistance through the UrbanMain program. A request for proposals is being initiated so that organizations working in economic development in their communities can apply to become part of the UrbanMain network. This round of applications will be open to organizations working in commercial corridors across the city of Chicago.
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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.
