Session 16

 

 

Topic:  Main Street Program

 

 

Note Taker:  Marian Keyes

 

Convenor: Vera Sansalone

 

Participants:

 

Dino Beckett, Tim McNamee, Stephen Fridenmaker, Donald Reed, Nathan Drain, Charles T. Feller, Dian Duncan, Linda Bowlby - these were the names on the participant list.

 

 

Key themes

 

 

From notes - Structure: Program requirement is to have a manager – does not need to be full time. To pay for a manager can use entertainment/hotel/otel tax, ask funds from county or city government.

 

Main St programs are grass root, volunteer, but require a paid general manager. Architect is a free service – is all about historic preservation

 

Ms Sansalone is the Mainstreet program manager in Fairmont. She has an 11 person board and (four?) committees. Each committee has responsibility for one goal. The goals have to do with  promotion, design, events, beautification.

 

Every board mem is assigned to a committee – board meets once a month, committee meets once a month.  Over 50 volunteers. Have a good relationship with city.

 

Benefits 2 state coordinators, every state has program. There are annual conferences, a  listserv – One benefit is access to resources. Program has good trainings.

 

Main St. Program has  attracted more businesses. Businesses are happier. Promote downtown in newspaper – Main St. page – businesses pay for the advertising and program promotes downtown activities that bring people into downtown.

 

 

Activities

 

Fairmont has a “1^st Saturday” program to bring people into town. On the first  Sat of each month one business takes responsibility for setting the theme. The  MS program mgr and volunteers help businesses to create/promote activities around that theme.

 

 

QUESTIONS

 

Is the Main Street program appropriate for rural communities? On participant said he had the impression that the program was geared for metro areas.A speaker representing the program once said that it might be undoable for a small community.

 

Rebuttal - White Sulphur, Kingswood, Roncevert, are main st. communities. Don’t need to have a minimum investment, only have to pay a manager.

 

What good is program if no money comes with it? We can do these things ourselves. It helps to have guidelines and expertise. It is a proven program. 

 

What is needed in a manager? Manager should be a good grant writer – grants for trees, planters, other beautification items. Program manager needs to be good fit – able to establish relationships, resources, motivate people.

 

Is the program just about historic preservation – no, but is part of the requirement.  Architect advises on and will design renovations, even signage.

 

Think outside the box – find a different route to your destination.

Vera offered to come talk to people in communities about the Main St. Program

 

OBSERVATIONS

 

The dynamic in this session was straightforward. Vera had set the topic with the intention of informing about and promoting the Main Street program. So questions were directed to her.

 

From chart paper? - Downtow as the core of the community

Four point approach

• Promotion - events
• Design - Beautification, facade enhancements
• Economic Restructing - new and existing businesses
• Organization - Volunteer management, b/d membership

No money needed to introduce Main Street

• Fundraisers
• Grants

Designation goes through development office certified by NTHP

Local investment sustains Main Street

• Hotel/motel tax
• county funding

Must pay a program manager (not full-time) can be an any level

Chamber draws in business

CVB promotes tourism

Main Street =Four Point is an umbrella -- Does it all

No minimum investment, creative financing

Main Street - All grassroots, volunteer driven, 501(c)3, no state funding, technical assistance, architect, resources

Board of Directors

• meets once a month
• everyone assigned to a committee

Local Partnerships

• the city funds $25K yearly
• City
• Parking authority

Leadership guidance -- state and national level

www.mainstreet.org

Main Street works for all communities regardless of size

Hotel/motel tax = tourist dollars

Kingwood - not publicly funded, rehab buildings for profit, Tree City USA through Allegheny Power, grants

Need someone to bring in volunteers

Happy business owners and happy residents = solid community

adaptive reuse

sign design

economic feasibility