virginia main street building economic vitality downtown building economic vitality downtown
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Virginia Main StreetVirginia Main Street
Building Economic Vitality Building Economic Vitality DowntownDowntown
Prominent center of employmentProminent center of employment Predominant image of the communityPredominant image of the community Significant part of tax baseSignificant part of tax base Ideal location for independent businessesIdeal location for independent businesses Historic core of the communityHistoric core of the community Represents a huge public and private Represents a huge public and private
investmentinvestment
Why is Downtown Why is Downtown Important?Important?
Long-term processLong-term process Hard workHard work Previous attempts have failedPrevious attempts have failed Competing interestsCompeting interests Old ideas, perceptionsOld ideas, perceptionsThe The Good NewsGood News is that the is that the
Main Street Approach works Main Street Approach works despite these challengesdespite these challenges
Why isn’t every Why isn’t every downtown revitalizeddowntown revitalized
MMethodology Combining:ethodology Combining:
Historic preservationHistoric preservation++
Economic developmentEconomic development ==
Restored Prosperity & Vitality DowntownRestored Prosperity & Vitality Downtown
What is Main What is Main Street?Street?
National Trust for Historic Preservation Demonstration projects in late 1970s and early
1980s
The Main Street The Main Street ApproachApproach
Use downtown’s traditional assets Use downtown’s traditional assets as a catalyst and basis for as a catalyst and basis for
revitalizationrevitalization
Downtown’s assets: Downtown’s assets: CommunityCommunity Personal ServicePersonal Service Cultural HeritageCultural Heritage Rich ArchitectureRich Architecture
The Main Street The Main Street ApproachApproach
Outcomes of a Outcomes of a Main Street EffortMain Street Effort
EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship PridePride Stronger public/private Stronger public/private
partnerships partnerships VibrancyVibrancy ““Sense of Place”Sense of Place”
Main Street Facts of Main Street Facts of LifeLife
No “handouts”No “handouts” Local resourcesLocal resources Everyone has an agenda Everyone has an agenda Not everyone will agreeNot everyone will agree There is no formulaThere is no formula It takes longer than you think It takes longer than you think
The Four PointsThe Four Points DESIGNDESIGN PROMOTIONPROMOTION ECONOMIC ECONOMIC
RESTRUCTURING RESTRUCTURING ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION
Why MS Works
DesignDesignMake it Attractive!Make it Attractive! Façade Façade
improvements improvements Streetscape Streetscape
projectsprojects Rehab incentives Rehab incentives WayfindingWayfinding Walking tours, Walking tours,
education, etc.education, etc.
PromotionPromotionBring Them Downtown AgainBring Them Downtown Again!!
Market downtown’s opportunities to investors, residents, customers and visitors through events, ads, publications and other activities.
PromotionPromotionBring Them Downtown AgainBring Them Downtown Again!!
Drives Business
Typical activities:Typical activities: Put on festivals and eventsPut on festivals and events
Image BuildingImage Building Retail focusedRetail focused FundraisingFundraising
Create marketing strategies Create marketing strategies and materialsand materials
Create and execute public Create and execute public relations campaignrelations campaign
PromotionPromotion
Economic RestructuringEconomic Restructuring
Recruit & Assist Recruit & Assist
Viable Businesses!Viable Businesses!
Economic Economic RestructuringRestructuring
Typical activities:Typical activities: Inventory existing buildings and businessesInventory existing buildings and businesses Conduct market analysisConduct market analysis Assess needs of existing businesses Assess needs of existing businesses Design and implement retention/assistance Design and implement retention/assistance
programsprograms Implement incentivesImplement incentives Recruit new businessesRecruit new businesses
Organization Organization Officer and committee Officer and committee
structurestructure Set vision/mission/goals/priority Set vision/mission/goals/priority
activitiesactivities Legal/financial/human Legal/financial/human
managementmanagement Membership developmentMembership development FundraisingFundraising Stakeholder and public Stakeholder and public
educationeducation Build Partnerships!Build Partnerships!
Separate and independentSeparate and independent Formally organizedFormally organized Made up of stakeholders Made up of stakeholders Board of directors & Board of directors &
committee structurecommittee structure
The Main Street The Main Street OrganizationOrganization
Stakeholders Stakeholders Business OwnersBusiness Owners
Property OwnersProperty Owners
Local GovernmentLocal Government
ResidentsResidents
Downtown Downtown EmployeesEmployees
UtilitiesUtilities
Financial InstitutionsFinancial Institutions
Chamber of Chamber of CommerceCommerce
Historic PreservationistsHistoric Preservationists
Service OrganizationsService Organizations
Arts & Cultural Arts & Cultural InstitutionsInstitutions
Local MediaLocal Media
Youth & SchoolsYouth & Schools
ChurchesChurches
Surrounding Surrounding CommunitiesCommunities
Visitor’s BureauVisitor’s Bureau
Why MS
Works
What Works – What Works – The Eight PrinciplesThe Eight Principles
1)1) Comprehensive Comprehensive
2)2) IncrementalIncremental
3)3) Public-private partnershipsPublic-private partnerships
4)4) Action-orientedAction-oriented
5)5) Builds on existing assetsBuilds on existing assets
6)6) Emphasizes qualityEmphasizes quality
7)7) Changing attitudesChanging attitudes
8)8) Self-helpSelf-help
What WorksWhat Works Aggressive Aggressive
managementmanagement An independent An independent
organization of organization of stakeholdersstakeholders
Comprehensive Comprehensive incremental approach incremental approach using all the Four using all the Four (interrelated) Points(interrelated) Points
1)1) Virginia Main Virginia Main Street Designated Street Designated CommunitiesCommunities
2)2) DHCD Commercial DHCD Commercial District Affiliate District Affiliate CommunitiesCommunities
Virginia Main Virginia Main Street Street OptionsOptions
21 Virginia Main Street 21 Virginia Main Street CommunitiesCommunities Berryville smallest at 2,800Berryville smallest at 2,800 Lynchburg largest at 65,000Lynchburg largest at 65,000 30 programs since 198530 programs since 1985 Abingdon, Altavista, & Abingdon, Altavista, &
Blackstone new in 2007Blackstone new in 2007
70 + DHCD Commercial District 70 + DHCD Commercial District AffiliatesAffiliates
Virginia Main StreetVirginia Main Street
Program ResourcesProgram Resources
Available to New Main Street Available to New Main Street CommunitiesCommunities
Reconnaissance VisitsReconnaissance Visits Resource Team VisitResource Team Visit Design Assistance Design Assistance
12 façade renderings and site visit12 façade renderings and site visit Year End AssessmentYear End Assessment One-Day Tech VisitOne-Day Tech Visit VMS Staff Site Visits/PresentationsVMS Staff Site Visits/Presentations NMSC MembershipNMSC Membership Virginia Main Street SignsVirginia Main Street Signs
Estimated value of
$105,000 over 3 years
Program ResourcesProgram Resources
Technical Technical AssistanceAssistance Design AssistanceDesign Assistance Staff AssistanceStaff Assistance Phone ConsultationPhone Consultation
Estimated annual value of $20,000
Available to ALL Main Street Communities
Resource MaterialResource Material Web siteWeb site Virginia Main Street Virginia Main Street
publications and researchpublications and research Salary SurveySalary Survey Statistics / BenchmarksStatistics / Benchmarks VMS LibraryVMS Library
Public RelationsPublic Relations Public Appearances Public Appearances
at community at community events, events,
VMS Annual Report, VMS Annual Report, Driving Tour, Driving Tour, Annual Milestone Annual Milestone Awards, Press Awards, Press ReleasesReleases
TrainingTraining TrainingTraining Managers’ RetreatManagers’ Retreat ScholarshipsScholarships
National Trust Main Street Center - 2008National Trust Main Street Center - 2008 Over 2,200 active communities in 40+ state Over 2,200 active communities in 40+ state
and municipal programsand municipal programs $48.8 billion of cumulative public and private $48.8 billion of cumulative public and private
investmentinvestment 391,050 new jobs391,050 new jobs 87,850 new businesses87,850 new businesses
Economic ImpactsEconomic Impacts
Economic ImpactsEconomic ImpactsVirginia Main Street 2008Virginia Main Street 2008 More than $564 millionMore than $564 million of private investmentof private investment
since 1985since 1985 More than 4,600 newMore than 4,600 new
businesses and 13,500 businesses and 13,500 new jobsnew jobs
More than 542,000 volunteer hours invested More than 542,000 volunteer hours invested since 1997since 1997
Over 5,800 building projectsOver 5,800 building projects
Contacts . . Contacts . . ..
Virginia Main Street (804) 371-7030 Virginia Main Street (804) 371-7030 www.dhcd.virginia.gov/MainStreetwww.dhcd.virginia.gov/MainStreetMain Street Essentials & other topical trainingsMain Street Essentials & other topical trainings
Virginia Downtown Development Virginia Downtown Development Association Association (434) 238-0986 or (434) 238-0986 or www.downtownvirginia.orgwww.downtownvirginia.org
National Main Street Center National Main Street Center (202) 588-6219 or (202) 588-6219 or www.mainstreet.org