1. Virginia Main Street Building Economic Vitality Downtown Building Economic Vitality Downtown

2. Prominent center of employment Prominent center of employment Predominant image of the community Predominant image of the community Significant part of tax base Significant part of tax base Ideal location for independent businesses Ideal location for independent businesses Historic core of the community Historic core of the community Represents a huge public and private investment Represents a huge public and private investment Why is Downtown Important?

3. Long-term process Long-term process Hard work Hard work Previous attempts have failed Previous attempts have failed Competing interests Competing interests Old ideas, perceptions Old ideas, perceptions The Good News is that the Main Street Approach works despite these challenges Why isn’t every downtown revitalized

4. M ethodology Combining: Historic preservation + Economic development = Restored Prosperity & Vitality Downtown What is Main Street? National Trust for Historic Preservation Demonstration projects in late 1970s and early 1980s

5. The Main Street Approach Use downtown’s traditional assets as a catalyst and basis for revitalization Use downtown’s traditional assets as a catalyst and basis for revitalization

6. Downtown’s assets: Community Community Personal Service Personal Service Cultural Heritage Cultural Heritage Rich Architecture Rich Architecture The Main Street Approach

7. Outcomes of a Main Street Effort Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship Pride Pride Stronger public/private partnerships Stronger public/private partnerships Vibrancy Vibrancy “Sense of Place” “Sense of Place”

8. Main Street Facts of Life No “handouts” No “handouts” Local resources Local resources Everyone has an agenda Everyone has an agenda Not everyone will agree Not everyone will agree There is no formula There is no formula It takes longer than you think It takes longer than you think

9. The Four Points The Four Points DESIGN DESIGN PROMOTION PROMOTION ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATION Why MS Works

10. Design Design Make it Attractive! Façade improvements Façade improvements Streetscape projects Streetscape projects Rehab incentives Rehab incentives Wayfinding Wayfinding Walking tours, education, etc. Walking tours, education, etc.

11. Promotion Bring Them Downtown Again ! Market downtown’s opportunities to investors, residents, customers and visitors through events, ads, publications and other activities.

12. Promotion Bring Them Downtown Again ! Drives Business

13. Typical activities: Put on festivals and events Put on festivals and events Image Building Image Building Retail focused Retail focused Fundraising Fundraising Create marketing strategies and materials Create marketing strategies and materials Create and execute public relations campaign Create and execute public relations campaign Promotion

14. Economic Restructuring Recruit & Assist Viable Businesses!

15. Economic Restructuring Typical activities: Inventory existing buildings and businesses Inventory existing buildings and businesses Conduct market analysis Conduct market analysis Assess needs of existing businesses Assess needs of existing businesses Design and implement retention/assistance programs Design and implement retention/assistance programs Implement incentives Implement incentives Recruit new businesses Recruit new businesses

16. Organization Officer and committee structure Officer and committee structure Set vision/mission/goals/priority activities Set vision/mission/goals/priority activities Legal/financial/human management Legal/financial/human management Membership development Membership development Fundraising Fundraising Stakeholder and public education Stakeholder and public education Build Partnerships! Build Partnerships!

17. Separate and independent Separate and independent Formally organized Formally organized Made up of stakeholders Made up of stakeholders Board of directors & committee structure Board of directors & committee structure The Main Street Organization

18. Stakeholders  Business Owners  Property Owners  Local Government  Residents  Downtown Employees  Utilities  Financial Institutions  Chamber of Commerce  Historic Preservationists  Service Organizations  Arts & Cultural Institutions  Local Media  Youth & Schools  Churches  Surrounding Communities  Visitor’s Bureau Why MS Works

19. What Works – The Eight Principles 1) Comprehensive 2) Incremental 3) Public-private partnerships 4) Action-oriented 5) Builds on existing assets 6) Emphasizes quality 7) Changing attitudes 8) Self-help

20. What Works Aggressive management Aggressive management An independent organization of stakeholders An independent organization of stakeholders Comprehensive incremental approach using all the Four (interrelated) Points Comprehensive incremental approach using all the Four (interrelated) Points

21. 1) Virginia Main Street Designated Communities 2) DHCD Commercial District Affiliate Communities Virginia Main Street Options

22. 21 Virginia Main Street Communities Berryville smallest at 2,800 Berryville smallest at 2,800 Lynchburg largest at 65,000 Lynchburg largest at 65,000 30 programs since 1985 30 programs since 1985 Abingdon, Altavista, & Blackstone new in 2007 Abingdon, Altavista, & Blackstone new in 2007 70 + DHCD Commercial District Affiliates Virginia Main Street

23. Program Resources Available to New Main Street Communities Reconnaissance Visits Reconnaissance Visits Resource Team Visit Resource Team Visit Design Assistance Design Assistance 12 façade renderings and site visit 12 façade renderings and site visit Year End Assessment Year End Assessment One-Day Tech Visit One-Day Tech Visit VMS Staff Site Visits/Presentations VMS Staff Site Visits/Presentations NMSC Membership NMSC Membership Virginia Main Street Signs Virginia Main Street Signs Estimated value of $105,000 over 3 years

24. Program Resources Technical Assistance Technical Assistance Design Assistance Design Assistance Staff Assistance Staff Assistance Phone Consultation Phone Consultation Estimated annual value of $20,000 Available to ALL Main Street Communities Resource Material Resource Material Web site Web site Virginia Main Street publications and research Virginia Main Street publications and research Salary Survey Salary Survey Statistics / Benchmarks Statistics / Benchmarks VMS Library VMS Library Public Relations Public Relations Public Appearances at community events, Public Appearances at community events, VMS Annual Report, Driving Tour, Annual Milestone Awards, Press Releases VMS Annual Report, Driving Tour, Annual Milestone Awards, Press Releases Training Training Managers’ Retreat Managers’ Retreat Scholarships Scholarships

25. National Trust Main Street Center - 2008 Over 2,200 active communities in 40+ state and municipal programs Over 2,200 active communities in 40+ state and municipal programs $48.8 billion of cumulative public and private investment $48.8 billion of cumulative public and private investment 391,050 new jobs 391,050 new jobs 87,850 new businesses 87,850 new businesses Economic Impacts

26. Virginia Main Street 2008 More than $564 million More than $564 million of private investment of private investment since 1985 More than 4,600 new More than 4,600 new businesses and 13,500 new jobs More than 542,000 volunteer hours invested since 1997 More than 542,000 volunteer hours invested since 1997 Over 5,800 building projects Over 5,800 building projects

27. Contacts... Virginia Main Street (804) 371-7030 www.dhcd.virginia.gov/MainStreet Virginia Main Street (804) 371-7030 www.dhcd.virginia.gov/MainStreet Main Street Essentials & other topical trainings Virginia Downtown Development Association (434) 238-0986 or www.downtownvirginia.org (434) 238-0986 or www.downtownvirginia.org National Main Street Center (202) 588-6219 or www.mainstreet.org (202) 588-6219 or www.mainstreet.orgwww.mainstreet.org