The Four Point Approach
The Main Street Approach is most effective in places where community residents have a strong emotional, social, and civic connection and are motivated to get involved and make a difference. This approach works where existing assets—such as older and historic buildings and local independent businesses—can be leveraged. It encourages communities to take steps to enact long term change, while also implementing short term, inexpensive and placed-based activities that attract people to the commercial core and create a sense of enthusiasm and momentum about their community. Both small-city downtowns and urban neighborhoods throughout the nation are renewing their community centers with Main Street methodology.
The refreshed Main Street Approach (see an overview of the refresh process here) is a common-sense, strategy driven framework that guides community based revitalization efforts. Building off three-decades of success, this updated model harnesses the social, economic, physical, and cultural assets that set a place apart, and ultimately leads to tangible outcomes that benefit the entire community
Key to Developing a Successful Program
- Understanding the Main Street approach
- Full-time Main Street Executive Director in communities with population greater than 5,000 or a part time Main Street Executive Director in communities with less than 5,000
- Close cooperation between public and private sectors
- Secure program funding
- Active Main Street Board
- Willingness to develop and implement a comprehensive revitalization program
- Clear and realistic goals and objectives
- Understanding that positive change takes both time and local effort
