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 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. The 2015 GAMSA winners have succeeded in making their towns an exciting place to live, work, play and visit through implementing the Main Street Center’s comprehensive methodology for downtown revitalization. In each locality, a local Main Street organization has collaborated with residents, business owners and other local partners to revitalize their district by promoting the assets that makes that community special.
“This year’s GAMSA winners, though diverse in size and geography, show that Main Streets are hotbeds for innovation and creativity, said Patrice Frey, president and CEO of the National Main Street Center. “We see this great convergence of old and new in these places. Historic commercial buildings are being repurposed to house the arts, high-tech businesses and entrepreneurs, bringing new jobs and energy to the district. Main Streets are as relevant as ever.”
Cape Giradeau, Missouri
Old Town Cape, Inc. has brought the business, government and university partners together to produce a creative corridor downtown and reinvigorate the riverfront of the largest city in southeastern Missouri. Historic rehabilitation projects have created housing, business incubator and coworking space, and performing arts space. Learn more.
Montclair Center, New Jersey
The Montclair Center BID has transformed Montclair Center from a sleepy bedroom community for New York commuters to a buzzing restaurant, retail and arts scene. A historic church converted into quirky, high-end office space has helped draw creative businesses and housing downtown with more mixed use development on the way. Learn more.
Rawlins, Wyoming
Watch the Rawlins DDA/Main Street GAMSA Video
Once described as a place that rolled up the sidewalks at night, downtown Rawlins now draws locals and visitors to its wealth of local businesses, entertainment and western heritage. The conversion of badly deteriorated historic buildings into an entrepreneurial center, and the opening of a clothing store crowd-funded by the community show the can-do spirit is alive and well in Rawlins. Learn more.
The National Main Street Center also selected Fond du Lac, Wisconsin as “One to Watch”—a place that is making great strides in using the Main Street approach to revitalize its downtown.
GAMSA winners were selected by a national jury composed of former award winners, community development professionals, and governmental agency representatives who are active in community revitalization and historic preservation. Criteria for winning include: strength of the Main Street in creating an exciting place to live, work, play and visit; commitment to historic preservation; implementation of model partnerships, and demonstrated success of the Main Street Four-Point Approach.®
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Ostego, MI
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Boyne City, MI © Michigan Main Street
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Sheridan, WY © Downtown Sheridan Association
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Sheridan, WY © Downtown Sheridan Association
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Florence, SC © Downtown Florence Main Street Program
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Laramie, WY © Main Street America
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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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2018 Partners in Preservation: Main Streets Winning Sites
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A Statewide Movement Improving West Virginia Main Streets
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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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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.
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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.
