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
Since its inception, Illinois Main Street (IMS) has been extraordinarily effective at working with communities across the state to revitalize downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts through place-based economic development. IMS programs have collectively secured nearly $1.2 billion in public and private reinvestment, added over 11,000 jobs, created over 2,400 new businesses, and rehabilitated 1220 buildings since 1992. Now in its 30th year, Illinois Main Street is entering a new phase of dynamic growth powered by collaboration and tenacious leadership.
“As a former executive director for a local Main Street district, I am thankful to be in the position to help grow the Illinois Main Street coordinating program,” reflects Joi Cuartero Austin, Senior Program Officer and Director of Illinois Main Street at Main Street America. “It’s a privilege to work alongside our Illinois Main Street programs and statewide partners to help foster vibrant communities and build homegrown wealth. These are inspiring times for Illinois Main Street, and I know the best is yet to come.”
In this Program Spotlight, we take a closer look at the exciting developments happening in Illinois that offer bright futures for communities and their stakeholders, as well as inspiration for our network of Main Street leaders, advocates, and changemakers.
Welcoming New Communities Brings Exciting Opportunities
In July 2022, Illinois Main Street welcomed three dynamic organizations to their network of programs dedicated to creating meaningful improvements to their communities on a hyperlocal, county, or regional level. The Greater Freeport Partnership (Freeport, IL) and Action Brown County representing Mt. Sterling (Brown County, IL) joined at the Affiliate level, while Marshall Main Street (Marshall, IL) joined at the Aspiring level.
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The Greater Freeport Partnership serves in the capacity of economic development, business service, and tourism for Freeport and Stephenson County. They bring partners and individuals together to promote and grow the region.
Action Brown County is a non-profit organization located in Mt. Sterling that works to promote the community and homegrown economic development throughout the county, through shop local campaigns, a community event calendar, and the Brown County Business Start-Up Competition.
Marshall Main Street works to manage and rebuild their historic downtown as a retail and service-oriented commercial district, through fun and exciting promotions, special events, and ongoing advertising campaigns.
The addition of these organizations to the Illinois Main Street network has created opportunities for conversations with more communities, for both membership and providing technical services to those outside of the network.
Leveraging Main Street’s Existing Hub-and-Spoke Model for the Small Business Community Navigator Program
In July 2021, the Illinois Main Street Program was selected as a Hub Organization for the Illinois Small Business Community Navigator Program. Through the program, 20 IMS members received grants to operate as “spokes” to the Illinois Main Street Program “hub.” As local experts and trusted leaders in their communities, each program was perfectly positioned to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to small businesses, with a particular focus on engaging those experiencing barriers to learning about and accessing economic recovery funds. One of the program’s first campaigns promoted the state’s Back 2 Business recovery grant initiative, which devoted $250 million (leveraged from the American Rescue Plan Act) for businesses that experienced losses or increased operating costs due to COVID-19.
Each spoke organization utilized their Navigator grant dollars to tailor their programming to meet the needs of their business communities. Downtown Crystal Lake, for example, hosted seminars and workshops designed to equip district businesses with growing their operations through digital marketing, media outreach, outdoor advertising, and collaborative business-to-business relationships. The response from Downtown Crystal Lake businesses was very strong and positive, with all participants receiving increased access to resources, exposure, and opportunities to connect, exchange knowledge, and build relationships. Downtown Crystal Lake also leveraged grant funding increase additional visitor traffic to the Main Street district through a multi-channel marketing campaign for their weekly farmers’ market, annual Garden Party event, and perennial shop local activities, which not only highlighted local businesses, but provided avenues for entrepreneurial incubation, development, and growth.
The program also created opportunities for IMS to partner more deeply with the Chicago Main Street initiative, which is dedicated to implementing the Main Street Approach methodology in seven neighborhood commercial districts. Six Chicago Main Street programs participated as spokes, delivering crucial technical assistance to area businesses and yielding impressive results. The 51st Street Business Association provided application support to more than 135 businesses, with at least 12 grant applications totaling $335,000 receiving approval. In the West Humboldt Park commercial corridor, the West Humboldt Park Development Council (WHP) utilized a multi-faceted marketing strategy to promote the Back 2 Business recovery grant program. A placement in a neighborhood newspaper led the business owner of a catering and culinary enrichment program devastated by the pandemic to reach out. WHP staff provided encouragement and grant writing assistance, resulting in the business receiving a substantial grant that will aid in restoring and sustaining the enterprise.
Through their established network of Main Street communities, each with years of experience developing relationships with partners and local businesses, as well as intimate knowledge of the unique needs of their communities, the Illinois Main Street “hub” is succeeding in providing resources to businesses and demonstrating the power of the Main Street Approach.
Reviving and Strengthening State-Level Partnerships to Build Capacity
Illinois Main Street was created as an initiative in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor in 1993. The program was administered by this office and received design services from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency until 2015, when all state financial support was eliminated due to budget cuts and shifts in funding priorities. This change greatly impacted Illinois communities and motivated Main Street leaders to reimagine the program’s structure, operations, and partnerships. In 2018, with support from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Main Street America re-launched IMS.
Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton’s special interest in community development—during her campaign and while in office—has revived the state’s commitment to supporting local economic development and downtown revitalization. In 2019, Lieutenant Governor Stratton met with representatives from Illinois Main Street and Chicago Main Street. "My office has focused on revitalizing and expanding Illinois Main Street so that communities across the state can access economic development and thrive as the rich, diverse regions that make Illinois so great," stated Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton.
Through subsequent listening sessions and a facilitated workshop made possible by leadership from Lieutenant Governor Stratton’s office, Illinois Main Street, and others, a new proposal to further partnership between the entities was developed. This revived collaboration outlined partnership priorities, funding, and outcomes. In July 2022, the one-year proposal was approved. In addition to reestablishing the relationship between Illinois Main Street and the state of Illinois, the agreement also allocates funding to ensure that IMS can build organizational capacity, grow the network, and maintain an inclusive framework that benefits member communities.
As work to implement the partnership begins this summer—with top priorities that include hiring a program manager, onboarding 3-4 more communities, building out resources, toolkits, and educational services (like the annual Illinois Main Street conference October 18-20, 2022), and bolstering the position and role of IMS as a leader in the community revitalization space—IMS’ involvement in another state-led initiative is injecting much needed investment into local programs.
On August 15, Illinois Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced $215 million in grants to 50 commercial corridor and main street organizations throughout the state via the Rebuild Illinois Downtown and Main Streets Capital program. Grants will support projects designed to support commercial hubs, beautify and modernize downtowns, address critical infrastructure needs, and improve the quality of life for residents.
Four IMS communities were included in this unprecedented revitalization initiative that leverages state, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and matching funds:
AltonWorks, a firm dedicated to adaptive reuse projects in downtown Alton, will restore the historic Wedge and Elgen buildings into the Wedge Innovation Center, a co-working and small business incubator that will provide space, support, and possibly start-up capital for entrepreneurs. This $3 million investment in the project also includes plans for creating ground floor commercial retail and restaurant spaces and prioritizing the recruitment of social impact innovation members at the Center.
The City of Carbondale will use their $2.05 million grant award to build the Downtown Entertainment & Events Plaza at the Washington Street Venue. The plaza will feature a permanent stage with enhanced infrastructure for performers and attendees. This new venue will be a boon for Carbondale Main Street’s efforts to boost economic activity at local businesses by attracting visitors through performing arts, live entertainment, and cultural activities.
With a $2.9 million boost, Jacksonville’s Downtown Turnaround Extension Project will make tremendous progress in accessibility to the downtown's main square, as well as reconstruction of South Main Street. This final phase of the project, which came to fruition after nearly two decades of advocacy efforts by Jacksonville Main Street, includes vitally important civic infrastructure upgrades and streetscape improvements matching those in the downtown area.
In downtown Quincy, the city and local Main Street program will utilize $2.4 million to support the 6th Street Corridor Reconstruction Project. Improvements include major upgrades to lighting, sidewalks, trees, and benches. Upon completion, the downtown corridor will become a unique third-space within the district, and will be more accessible to visitors for both day-to-day visits and special events. “This will be a game changer to our downtown district! It's exciting to see how a vision of a more accessible and revitalized downtown comes to fruition for Quincy,” said Emily Lombardi, Director of Economic Development at The District Quincy. “We've made big plans for the 6th Street Promenade with the hope of bringing a beautiful attraction to our community. This investment in our downtown is a long-awaited relief to the infrastructural needs required to boost local business and create an accessible, workable downtown area."
The future of Illinois Main Street and its members is bright. Learn more and follow the progress of Illinois Main Street at www.ilmainstreet.org.
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Each week this Women's History Month, Main Street America is spotlighting the stories of women leaders in local and coordinating Main Street programs.
Community Spotlight: Women Leaders Series — Week Three
Each week this Women's History Month, Main Street America is spotlighting the stories of women leaders in local and coordinating Main Street programs.
Community Spotlight: Women Leaders Series — Week Two
Each week this Women's History Month, Main Street America is spotlighting the stories of women leaders in local and coordinating Main Street programs.
Community Spotlight: Women Leaders Series — Week One
Each week this Women's History Month, Main Street America is spotlighting the stories of women leaders in local and coordinating Main Street programs.
INVEST South/West Chicago Reaches Two-year Milestone
Main Street America's partners in Chicago celebrate two years of training and technical assistance in the city.
Chicago, IL © Main Street America
Main Spotlight: Better Community Planning & Economic Development Series with Ed McMahon
Leverage NC, a partnership between North Carolina Main Street and the North Carolina League of Municipalities, hosted a four-part webinar series titled Better Community Planning & Economic Development led by Ed McMahon, Chair Emeritus of Main Street America and a leading national authority on land use policy and economic development.
Community Spotlight: Main Street America’s Field Team Gets Back on the Road
After many zoom meetings, our road warriors are back visiting communities and providing technical assistance.
Washington, IA © Kathy La Plante
2020 Year in Review: A Letter to the Network
President and CEO Patrice Frey reflects on 2020 and the early events of 2021.
Florence, SC © True Light Photography
HartBeat of Main Street Grant Program: First Round Recipient Spotlights
These 67 recipients from across the country ranged from bakeries and boutiques to salons and museums, but they all shared a commitment to the program's goals of responding and adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic and helping to revitalize and strengthen older and historic downtown commercial districts.
New Research from Brookings and the National Main Street Center on the Value of Main Street Organizations
The Brookings Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking released a new series of research briefs focused on the role that place governance organizations, like Main Street programs, play in revitalizing rural downtowns and promoting equitable rural economic and community development.
Congratulations to the 2020 MSARP Recipients!
Meet the latest graduates of our certificate program for leaders in commercial district revitalization.
Main Spotlight: Developing a Toolbox to Help Manage Growth on Main Street
Georgetown has developed a strong Downtown Master Plan that helps serve as a guide-point for planning efforts in downtown
Announcing the 2020 Mary Means Leadership Award Recipient
Meet Sharon Jablonski, the Director of Morganton Main Street in Morganton, North Carolina, and the first recipient of the Mary Means Leadership Award.
Announcing the 2020 Great American Main Street Award Winners
Congratulations to these Main Street programs for their fantastic work!
Community Spotlight: Missouri Main Street Connection Leads the Iowa Community Expedition
Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC) had the opportunity to take Missouri Executive Directors and other community representatives on the Iowa Community Expedition
District Spotlight: Pontiac, Michigan
In response, UrbanMain and Main Street Oakland County joined forces in March 2018 to assist Pontiac stakeholders in putting their downtown organization back on a positive track, making Pontiac the first community in Michigan to participate in the UrbanMain initiative.
2018 Partners in Preservation: Main Streets Winning Sites
American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Main Street America announced the winners of the 2018 Partners in Preservation: Main Streets campaign.
2018 Community Transformation Workshop Recap
An essential component of the Main Street America Institute, the three-day in-person workshop gives participants hands-on tools to enact revitalization projects in their communities.
A Statewide Movement Improving West Virginia Main Streets
Since 2013, Try This West Virginia has sought to improve health environments in local communities as a collaboration of organizations working together to combat the health challenges facing West Virginians.
Community Spotlight: Main Street Hampton
Main Street Hampton hosted a Food and Friends Farm-to-Table dinner at the Rustic Brew during Main Street Iowa Restaurant Week.
Community Spotlight: Partners in Preservation 2018
From community gathering spaces to retail incubators, from small towns to big cities – this year’s projects and communities are a testament to the diversity of Main Streets across the country.
Community Spotlight: Ames, Iowa
Downtown Ames hosted a festival for the 46th annual RAGBRAI race (The Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa).
7 Ways To Bring Your Main Street On Screen
You don’t need to be a big-name district to make a video that goes viral; you just need to know what you’re doing.
Comcast Newsmakers: Revitalizing Downtown
Matt Wagner, National Main Street Center's Vice President of Revitalization Programs, discusses competitive advantages, incrementalism and the power of the Main Street America network
Community Spotlight: Main Street Homer, Louisiana
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.
Evolution, Acceptance, and Change: The Main Street Approach as a Catalyst for Revitalization
Nearly slated for demolition 30 years ago, downtown Cedar Falls has experienced an amazing transformation through its revitalization journey using the Main Street Approach.
Main Street Roots Run Deep in Downtown Wytheville
Since starting as Executive Director, Todd has helped the organization achieve Virginia Main Street Designation Status and national Accreditation.
Announcing the 2018 Great American Main Street Award Winners
The National Main Street Center, Inc., announced Downtown Oregon City, Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency, and Howell Main Street as the 2018 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) winners during its annual conference in Kansas City, Missouri.
Main Streets in Action
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.
