A new brand and refreshed approach will bring resources and much-needed energy to Michigan’s ongoing effort to revitalize historic downtowns and commercial districts. The effort is based on a partnership among the National Main Street Center, Inc., and a network of 45 state, city, and county-level Main Street coordinating programs, including the Michigan Main Street program at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
These changes include a new name for the Main Street Network, which will now be called Main Street America.
The partnership builds on the critical role Main Streets have played, and will continue to play in the return to the city movement sweeping urban areas and small towns alike all across the United States.
“For more than three decades, the Main Street Approach has helped communities identify their distinctive assets and capitalize on them to breathe new life in our country’s historic downtowns and commercial districts,” said Patrice Frey, President and CEO of the National Main Streets Center, Inc.
“This revised framework and fresh look will ensure that Main Streets are equipped to deal with new challenges facing downtowns and commercial districts today, and will help our network take advantage of the social, economic, and cultural changes that will continue to favor vibrant downtowns in the future,” she said.
The State of Michigan has partnered with the National Main Street Center since 2003 to stimulate the revitalization of 92 communities in Michigan. In that time, the Michigan Main Street communities have accrued $148.9 million in private investment, created a net 309 new businesses and 1,237 net new jobs, through the efforts of 439,205 volunteer hours.
“We are excited about the opportunities the National Refresh provides and to begin working with it in our communities,” said Laura Krizov, manager of the Main Street program at the MEDC. “We feel that the Michigan Main Street Program has been moving our communities in this direction for the last several years. It will be exciting to really start looking at the market to help define our communities develop the strategies for their communities.”
Originally launched as a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1980, the National Main Street Center pioneered an incremental, volunteer-driven strategy to help flagging downtowns counteract booming suburban growth—a novel approach that was in stark contrast to the urban renewal projects that were destroying commercial districts and neighborhoods all over the country.
By tapping two important community resources, citizen participation and its older and historic buildings, the Main Street Four-Point Approach has helped historic downtowns and urban commercial districts regain their stature as centers of America’s culture, commerce, and economy while preserving their unique character.
Click for more information on Michigan Main Street program and Main Street America
Pure Michigan is a brand representing business, talent and tourism initiatives across Michigan. These efforts are driven by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which serves as the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business growth, jobs and opportunity with a focus on helping grow Michigan’s economy.
For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit michiganbusiness.org. For Michigan travel news, updates and information, visit michigan.org.
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Source: MEDC
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