Placemaking Main Street into a Destination Downtown
Fred Kent and Gary Toth of Project for Public Spaces explore how placemaking initiatives can turn your downtown into a destination.
Creating a Unique Identity
Branding plays an important role in the look and feel of your downtown district. Your organization’s branding can represent the unique features of your downtown, remind people of the purpose of your organization, and help people stay engaged with your work. A comprehensive brand guide helps your staff and partners be consistent in how they represent your organization and your work. Brand guides include information about your brand colors, fonts, images, and key phrases. Use this example from Downtown Maryville Alliance to guide you as you create your own brand guidelines for your organization.
Published by Downtown Maryville Alliance.
Maryville, TN © Downtown Maryville Alliance
Related Resources
Communications Procedures
These sample Communication Standard Operating Procedures from Heart of Biddeford provide an example of the communication policies that Main Streets should consider formalizing, including brand guidelines, DEI best practices, website, email marketing, social media, and more.
Biddeford, ME © McKenney Photography
Shop Small Guide
Examples of Main Street marketing brochures from across Indiana's Main Street programs.
Wayfinding Sign System Guide
This guide from Virginia Main Street explores the importance of wayfinding, the components of a custom wayfinding plan, design considerations, and implementation.
Sterling, Illinois. © Sterling Main Street
Crafting Your Message for an Elected Official
Simple advice for outreach and communications with elected officials and government representatives.
Get Hyped: Turn District Cheerleaders into Social Influencers
Watch this webinar to learn how social influencers can drive engagement and build excitement for your downtown promotions and programs.
Social Media, Photo Contests, and Walking Tours
Use this guide from Colorado Main Street to help you develop social media strategies, photo contests, and walking tours that will boost engagement and bring people downtown.
Lansing, MI
Crisis Management
Everything you need to prepare your community organization to handle both internal and external crises. Published by Indiana Main Street.
Momence, IL
Construction Mitigation Plan
Construction can be very disruptive for downtown businesses. Use this sample mitigation plan to help you develop your own strategy to assist your downtown businesses during a construction project. Published by Cumberland Main Street.
Media Communications for Advocacy Campaigns
How non-profits can use media, public relations, and communications outreach to achieve policy goals.
Using Social Media to Tell Your Downtown’s Story
Watch this webinar to learn the power of digital marketing and online promotions to drive excitement and engagement on social media.
Special Event Policy
An example of the policies that communities can use to guide their downtown carnivals, block parties, festivals, and other special events. Published by the city of Batavia, Illinois.
Going Beyond Events
Marketing your downtown with targeted, year-round engagement and outreach efforts. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
Wayland, MI
Creating a Culinary Culture
Learn how Bridgeton, N.J., has drawn on its long history as a food hub to create a culinary district and attract food tourism. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
Measuring the Economic Impact of Special Events
Two Mississippi Main Street communities explain how they collected data on the small business impact of downtown events.
The Arkansas DeltaMade Program
Learn how a regional branding initiative, Arkansas DeltaMade, uncovered hidden entrepreneurial assets and fostered the creation of new businesses built around the distinctive character of the Arkansas Delta.
Siloam Springs, AR © Brandonrush
Cash Mobs
First there were “flash mobs.” Now there are cash mobs, the shop-local equivalent. At these events, 'mobs' of people visit a small business with the commitment to spend at least $20 each. Published in Main Street Now magazine. Written by Andrea L. Dono.
Arts and Entertainment Districts
Explore benefits of and strategies for creating a vibrant arts and entertainment district in your downtown or neighborhood. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
Establishing a District Niche
Learn how focusing on the unique features of your community can make a Main Street district memorable to shoppers and visitors. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
Haunted Happenings
In this article, Kathy La Plante shows you how to tap into your town’s heritage by capitalizing on local assets, spooky or spectacular, to create events that will attract residents and visitors alike. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
Conway, SC
New Media, New Advocacy
When state funding for the Washington State Main Street Program was cut in December of 2009, local programs across the state took on the job of getting the funds restored. Find out how social media helped ramp up the local programs’ advocacy efforts and contributed to a winning strategy.
Bainbridge, WA
Downtown Florence, South Carolina © True Light Photography
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