WHAT IS THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM?
The Main Street initiative is a comprehensive, community-based
revitalization program developed by the National Trust of Historic Preservation’s
Main Street Center. Started in 1980, Georgia
was one of six pilot program states and to date serves nearly 0 state-wide
designated communities. Main Street has transformed the way communities think
about their downtowns and the management of their commercial districts.
The Main Street Four-Point Approach TM 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. Committees, that encourage community
involvement and work to catalyze action in these impactful areas, are an
important part of most Main Street programs.
The Main Street philosophy and the Eight Guiding Principles
behind this methodology makes it an effective tool for community-based,
grassroots, revitalization efforts.
These eight components ask Main Street cities to take a comprehensive
approach, move in incremental steps, promote self-help, create partnerships,
strive to identify and capitalize on existing assets, emphasize quality, be
open to change and, most importantly, be committed to implementation. The Main Street approach has been successful
in communities of all sizes, both rural and urban.
DESIGN Design means
getting the downtown into top physical shape.
Capitalizing on assets such as historic buildings and looking at the
traditional downtown layout are just part of the story. An inviting atmosphere can be created through
window displays, greenspaces, parking areas, signage, sidewalks, street lights
and landscaping; good design conveys a visual message about what Main Street is
and what it has to offer.
PROMOTION Promotion means selling the image and promise of
Main Street to all prospects. By
marketing the district’s unique characteristics through advertising, retail, promotional
activities, special events, and marketing campaigns an effective promotion
strategy forges a positive image to shoppers, investors, new businesses and
visitors.
ORGANIZATION Organization means getting everyone working
towards common goals. The common-sense
formula of a volunteer-driven program and an organizational structure of board
and committees assisting professional management can ease the difficult work of
building consensus and cooperation among the varied stakeholders that have an
interest in the district.
ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING Economic Restructuring means finding
new or better purposes for the Main Street enterprises. Helping existing downtown businesses expand
and recruiting new ones, a successful Main Street converts unused spaces into
production property and sharpens the competitiveness of its businesses. Main Street Program is part of a national
network of more than 1,200 active Main Street entities. It is an essential community-drive initiative
that focuses on the revitalization of older, traditional business districts
throughout the United States
The underlying premise of the Main Street concept is to
encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation in
ways that are appropriate for today’s marketplace. Main Street programs advocate 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.