The Main Street Approach helps communities leverage both the art and science of downtown revitalization to create a better quality of life for all.
The Main Street Approach is most effective in places where community residents have strong connections and are motivated to get involved and make a difference. This approach works where older and historic buildings and local independent businesses can be leveraged by encouraging communities to take steps to enact long term change, while also implementing short term, inexpensive and placed-based activities that attract people to the downtown and create a sense of enthusiasm and momentum about their community.
The result of these community-driven efforts are places with strong social cohesion and economic opportunity; they are places that support and sustain innovation and opportunity; places where people of diverse perspectives and backgrounds come together to shape the future.
Information courtesy of Louisiana Main Street
Communities must work together to identify key strategies, known as Community Transformation Strategies that will provide a clear sense of priorities and direction for the revitalization efforts. Typically communities will find two to three Community Transformation Strategies are needed to help reach a community vision. These strategies will focus on both long and short-term actions that will move a community closer to achieving its goals.
Work on these strategies would align with the four key areas Main Streets have been using as a guiding framework for over 40 years: Economic Vitality, Promotion, Design, and Organization, known collectively as the Main Street Four Points.
