What is the "Four Point Approach"?
A community's central business district often accounts for as much as 20% of the town's jobs and 40% of it's tax base. But, Main Street is more than an economic asset. It is also a community's crossroads, a place in our hearts and minds that evokes strong emotions and helps define our identity. In recent years, many approaches to downtown revitalization, from urban renewal to paint-up fix-up projects have failed because they focused on just one or two problems, rather than dealing with the full spectrum of interrelated issues that affect traditional commercial districts.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Program offers an approach to downtown revitalization that has been successful in more than a thousand cities throughout the country. The four point described below are the keys to the Main Street approach.
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Organization....
means getting everyone working toward the same goal. The tough work of building consensus and cooperation among the groups that have an important stake in the district can be eased by using the commonsense formula of a volunteer-driven program and an organizational structure of board and committees. The Organization Committee meets to plan fund-raisers and membership recruitment. Contact Alex McWilliams to volunteer for this committee.
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Promotion...
means selling the image and promise of Main Street to all prospects. By marketing the district's unique characteristics to shoppers, investors, new businesses and visitors, an effective promotion strategy forges a positive image through advertising, retail promotional activity, special events and marketing campaigns carried out by local volunteers. The Promotion Committee meets to plan and organize promotions throughout the year. Contact chairman Tracie Wargo to volunteer for this committee.
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Design...
means getting Main Street into top physical shape. Capitalizing on its best assets such as historic buildings and traditional downtown layout is just part of the story. An inviting atmosphere created through window displays, parking areas, signs, sidewalks, street lights and landscaping conveys a visual message about what Main Street is and what it has to offer. The Design committee meets as needed to plan beautification of the downtown. Contact chairman Sue DeLong to volunteer for this committee.
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Economic Restructuring...
means finding a new purpose for Main Street's enterprises. By helping existing downtown businesses expand and recruiting new ones to respond to today's market. Main Street programs help convert unused space into productive property and sharpen the competitiveness of business enterprises. The Economic Restructuring Committee meets as needed. Contact chairman Carole Shields to volunteer for this committee.
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