Already a member?
Sign in
Welcome! This is a website that everyone can build together. It's easy!
- EasyEdit
- Edit tags
- Email page
-
(what's this?What are these tools?
People just like you can add or edit the content on this site. If you want to try editing, but aren't ready to add to this site, try our demo area.
Read more about editing pages at Wetpaint Central.
)
The Main Street program
The Wisconsin Main Street Program is a comprehensive revitalization program designed to promote the historic and economic redevelopment of traditional business districts in Wisconsin. The Main Street Program was established in 1987 to encourage and support the revitalization of downtowns in Wisconsin communities. Each year, the Department of Commerce selects communities to join the program. These communities receive technical support and training needed to restore their Main Streets to centers of community activity and commerce. Whitewater was accorded Main Street status in 2006.
THE FOUR-POINT APPROACH
In 1980, the National Trust for Historic Preservation established the National Main Street Center to assist nationwide downtown revitalization efforts. The Wisconsin Main Street Program is based on the Trust's philosophy, which advocates restoration of the historic character of downtown while pursuing traditional development strategies such as marketing, business recruitment and retention, real estate development, market analysis, and public improvements.
Four elements combine to create this well balanced program:
MAIN STREET BENEFITS
Investment
In the first five years of a local Main Street program, the state of Wisconsin invests approximately $125,000 in on-site visits, training, and technical assistance.
The Wisconsin Main Street Program, the National Main Street Center, and private consultants spend more than 80 days in each new community during the start-up phase.
After the start-up phase, the state annually invests approximately $5,000 in each Main Street community to provide quarterly volunteer and director training sessions, design assistance, business consultations, and town-specific technical assistance. Other benefits are an annual awards ceremony, cooperative marketing opportunities, and an extensive library of slides, videos, and printed materials. In addition, scholarships are available for local Main Street program directors to attend the National Town Meeting on Main Street.
Results
Together, Wisconsin Main Street communities have impacted the heart and soul of our communities-the downtowns. A significant number of new jobs have been created; many new businesses have been attracted; and millions of dollars have been privately invested in the communities.
SERVICES AVAILABLE TO COMMUNITIES
Communities selected to participate in the Wisconsin Main Street Program receive five years of technical assistance, including:
(Source: Wisconsin Department of Commerce Main Street Overview. For more information, go to the National Main Street Center at www.mainstreet.org. It's part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.)
THE FOUR-POINT APPROACH
In 1980, the National Trust for Historic Preservation established the National Main Street Center to assist nationwide downtown revitalization efforts. The Wisconsin Main Street Program is based on the Trust's philosophy, which advocates restoration of the historic character of downtown while pursuing traditional development strategies such as marketing, business recruitment and retention, real estate development, market analysis, and public improvements.
Four elements combine to create this well balanced program:
- Organization involves building a Main Street framework that is well represented by civic groups, merchants, bankers, citizens, public officials, and chambers of commerce. Everyone must work together to renew downtown. A strong organization provides the stability to build and maintain a long-term effort.
- Design enhances the attractiveness of the business district. Historic building rehabilitations, street and alley clean-ups, colorful banners, landscaping and lighting all improve the physical image of the downtown as a quality place to shop, work, walk, invest in, and live. Design improvements result in a reinvestment of private and public dollars into the downtown.
- Economic Restructuring involves analyzing current market forces to develop long-term solutions. Recruiting new businesses, creatively converting unused space for new uses, and sharpening the competitiveness of Main Street's traditional merchants are examples of economic restructuring activities.
- Promotion creates excitement downtown. Street festivals, parades, retail events, and image development campaigns are some of the ways Main Street encourages consumer traffic in the downtown. Promotion involves marketing an enticing image to shoppers, investors, and visitors.
What is the Main Street Approach to Commercial District Revitalization? 
Stacy Mitchell © The Main Street Four-Point Approach™ is a community-driven, comprehensive methodology used to revitalize older, traditional business districts throughout the United States. It is a common-sense way to address the variety of issues and problems that face traditional business districts. The underlying premise of the Main Street approach is to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation in ways appropriate to today's marketplace. The Main Street Approach advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment, and the rebuilding of traditional commercial districts based on their unique assets: distinctive architecture, a pedestrian-friendly environment, personal service, local ownership, and a sense of community.
The Main Street Four-Point Approach™ is a comprehensive strategy that is tailored to meet local needs and opportunities. It encompasses work in four distinct areas — Design, Economic Restructuring, Promotion, and Organization — that are combined to address all of the commercial district's needs. The philosophy and the Eight Guiding Principles behind this methodology make it an effective tool for community-based, grassroots revitalization efforts. The Main Street approach has been successful in communities of all sizes, both rural and urban. Find out if the Approach is right for your community.
The Main Street approach is incremental; it is not designed to produce immediate change. Because they often fail to address the underlying causes of commercial district decline, expensive improvements, such as pedestrian malls or sports arenas, do not always generate the desired economic results. In order to succeed, a long-term revitalization effort requires careful attention to every aspect of downtown — a process that takes time and requires leadership and local capacity building. In this section, you can also read about Success Stories of Main Street programs nationwide and see the average economic reinvestment statistics that existing organizations have achieved.
Stacy Mitchell ©
The Main Street Four-Point Approach™ is a comprehensive strategy that is tailored to meet local needs and opportunities. It encompasses work in four distinct areas — Design, Economic Restructuring, Promotion, and Organization — that are combined to address all of the commercial district's needs. The philosophy and the Eight Guiding Principles behind this methodology make it an effective tool for community-based, grassroots revitalization efforts. The Main Street approach has been successful in communities of all sizes, both rural and urban. Find out if the Approach is right for your community.
The Main Street approach is incremental; it is not designed to produce immediate change. Because they often fail to address the underlying causes of commercial district decline, expensive improvements, such as pedestrian malls or sports arenas, do not always generate the desired economic results. In order to succeed, a long-term revitalization effort requires careful attention to every aspect of downtown — a process that takes time and requires leadership and local capacity building. In this section, you can also read about Success Stories of Main Street programs nationwide and see the average economic reinvestment statistics that existing organizations have achieved.
MAIN STREET BENEFITS
Investment
In the first five years of a local Main Street program, the state of Wisconsin invests approximately $125,000 in on-site visits, training, and technical assistance.
The Wisconsin Main Street Program, the National Main Street Center, and private consultants spend more than 80 days in each new community during the start-up phase.
After the start-up phase, the state annually invests approximately $5,000 in each Main Street community to provide quarterly volunteer and director training sessions, design assistance, business consultations, and town-specific technical assistance. Other benefits are an annual awards ceremony, cooperative marketing opportunities, and an extensive library of slides, videos, and printed materials. In addition, scholarships are available for local Main Street program directors to attend the National Town Meeting on Main Street.
Results
Together, Wisconsin Main Street communities have impacted the heart and soul of our communities-the downtowns. A significant number of new jobs have been created; many new businesses have been attracted; and millions of dollars have been privately invested in the communities.
SERVICES AVAILABLE TO COMMUNITIES
Communities selected to participate in the Wisconsin Main Street Program receive five years of technical assistance, including:
- Volunteer and program manager training;
- Advanced training on specific downtown issues, such as marketing, business recruitment,
- Volunteer development, and historic preservation;
- On-site visits to help each community develop its strengths and plan for success;
- On-site design consultations;
- On-site small business consultations:
- Telephone assistance;
- Materials such as manuals and slide programs
(Source: Wisconsin Department of Commerce Main Street Overview. For more information, go to the National Main Street Center at www.mainstreet.org. It's part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.)
Latest page update: made by downtownwhitewater
, Sep 20 2007, 10:48 PM EDT
(about this update
About This Update
Edited by downtownwhitewater
308 words added
1 image added
view changes
- complete history)
Edited by downtownwhitewater
308 words added
1 image added
view changes
- complete history)
More Info: links to this page