Center City Committees

Promotions | Organization and Funding | Economic Restructuring | Design | Executive |

The "Four-Point Approach" to Revitalization.

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 towns and cities throughout the country. The four point described below are the keys to the success of the Main Street approach:

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 distric can be eased by using the common-sense formula of a volunteer-driven program and an organizational structure of board and committees. Organization & Funding Committee members.

Promotion means selling the image and promise of Main Stret to all prospects. By marketing the districts’ 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. Promotion Committee members.

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, streetlights, and landscaping conveys a visual message about what Main Street is and what it has to offer. Design Committee members.

Economic Restructuring means finding a new purpose for Main Street enterprises. By helping existing downtown businesses expand and recruiting new ones to respond to today’s market. Main Street programs help convert unused spaces into productive property and sharpen the competitiveness of the business enterprises. Economic Development Committee members.

*All text on this page is derived from page 2 of the Main Street Committee Members Handbook from the National Trust’s National Main Street Center.