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