Podcasts about main street program

In a recent episode of The Valley Business Today, host Janet Michael along with cohost Niki Foster, President of the Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce had an in-depth conversation with Ellen Aders about the ongoing efforts to revitalize downtown Front Royal. The discussion, recorded at the chamber, delved into the intricacies of the Main Street Program and the significant strides made by Downtown Front Royal Inc. toward achieving Main Street Accreditation. Ellen Aders, the president of Downtown Front Royal Inc., shared her long-standing affection for the area and discussed her organization's progress in the Main Street Program. Since revisiting the program in late 2022, Downtown Front Royal Inc. has advanced through various phases, including 'Exploring Main Street' and 'Mobilizing Main Street.' Ellen explained that, unlike 15-20 years ago, the Main Street certification process has been streamlined, allowing organizations to gradually phase themselves in. With a better understanding of the requirements, including organized bylaws, a clear vision, a strategic plan, and a budget, Ellen and her team applied for and were accepted into the 'Mobilizing Main Street' phase. This phase includes monthly homework assignments, meetings, and continuous community engagement to prepare for full Main Street Accreditation. Janet reiterated that the Main Street Program is deeply rooted in community support and education. It focuses on creating a vibrant downtown area that caters to the community's needs, including cooperative efforts with local businesses. Ellen emphasized that the community's backing is vital to progress through the program and reach Main Street Accreditation. Ellen detailed Main Street America's four-point approach: organization, economic vitality, design, and promotion. These pillars ensure a strong foundation for supporting local businesses, preserving historic downtown areas, and promoting community activities. Downtown Front Royal Inc. has already initiated several projects, including an expanded farmers' market and plans for a permanent welcome sign at the Commerce/Main Street gateway. With plans to enhance the downtown experience further, Ellen discussed the upcoming Garden of Dreams fundraiser. This event, sponsored by Marlow Motor Company, aims to raise funds for continued downtown development projects. The fundraiser will offer a night of dinner, music, live and silent auctions, and community engagement. Ellen and Janet discussed the essential resources provided by the Main Street organization, including access to various grants and preservation support. The affiliation with Main Street offers substantial benefits to potential investors and local businesses, supporting the overall goal of a thriving downtown community. Niki shares updates on the Wine & Craft Festival. She highlighted the importance of committee involvement to ensure the success of local events and programs. The episode wrapped up with a call to action for the community to get involved, either through volunteering, attending events, or sponsoring projects. Janet, Ellen, and Niki underscored that the continued support and active participation of the community are crucial for the ongoing revitalization efforts of downtown Front Royal. 

This week, Christine sits down with Mindy Cawley, the owner of Vintage MC in Frederick, Maryland. They discuss Mindy's journey from farm life to running a successful vintage shop specializing in mid-century modern furniture and retro items. They explore the vibrant local support for small businesses in Frederick, thanks to initiatives like the Downtown Frederick Partnership and the Main Street Program. Mindy highlights the thrill of community events such as the 'Sailing Through the Winter Solstice' fundraiser, where decorated boats, including her own 'Dancing Queen 2.0,' bring light and joy during the winter. The conversation touches on balancing business and family life, the humor of family involvement, and the bittersweet aspects of dealing with empty nest syndrome. Mindy shares her gift for staying ahead of trends, the strong support in her community, and the joy of connecting with customers through her love for vintage and retro decor.00:00 Introduction and Menopause Meal Plan Info00:57 Meet Mindy Cawley from Vintage MC01:21 The Story Behind Vintage MC02:07 Expanding the Vintage Shop03:19 Trends and Popular Items13:03 The Charm of Downtown Frederick14:24 Support for Local Businesses16:35 Main Street Programs and Grants21:34 Upcoming Trends and Holiday Plans24:10 Winter Fundraising with Sailing Through the Winter Solstice24:28 Decorating Boats for Charity25:49 The Dancing Queen 2.0 Project26:11 Holiday Preparations and Hustling for Donations26:38 The Challenges and Joys of Small Business Ownership27:38 Creative Fundraising Ideas37:12 Reflections on Empty Nest Life43:10 Favorite Local Eateries44:35 Where to Find Mindy and Vintage MCFollow Christine Van Bloem on Instagram @theemptynestkitchen and on Facebook @emptynestkitchenLearn more about Menopause Meal PlansSign up for my FREE 10 Essential Tools for the Empty Nest KitchenCheck out Vintage MC!

In this episode, host Janet Michael chats with Brady Cloven, the director of the newly formed Winchester Main Street Organization, during a segment of Tourism Tuesday. Brady discusses his unexpected but welcome introduction to the role, the transition of the Winchester Main Street program from city management to becoming a non-profit organization, and the important distinctions and benefits that come with this change. Brady emphasizes the need for community involvement and input, highlighting that the program is not just about the decisions of a select few but aims to benefit all who live, work, and play in Winchester's Old Town. The conversation touches on recent community meetings, where topics like urban design, public art, and local business ecosystems were discussed to shape the future of Old Town. Janet and Brady delve into the exciting updates and future plans for Winchester Main Street. This includes a forthcoming rebranding effort with a new logo, website, and name, expected by the end of the year. Brady also outlines the various committee structures set up to address different aspects of the organization's mission, from promotions and events to economic vitality and fundraising. The discussion also covers the array of popular events hosted in Old Town Winchester, such as KidzFest, Celtic Fest, Chocolate Escape, and First Fridays. Brady and Janet explore how these events can be improved and positioned to maximize foot traffic and business engagement. They also acknowledge the city's continued support during this transition and future collaborations. As the episode wraps up, Brady shares details about the upcoming Fiddles and Fifths event and expresses optimism for maintaining Winchester as a vibrant community. They discuss how the Main Street program can leverage resources and share best practices from other successful Main Street communities in Virginia. Listeners are encouraged to stay involved, visit Old Town Winchester's social media, and attend community meetings to contribute their ideas. The next community meeting is scheduled for September 20th at Winchester Brew Works. Reach out to Brady via email and/or follow the organization on Facebook.

Our conversation for Tourism Tuesday - Old Town Winchester edition - featured Jenny McDonald from the City of Winchester to talk about the importance of shopping small this holiday season and throughout the year. She told us how successful WINdependent Weekend was and gave several statistics about how shopping small has a positive impact on our local economy. We talked about all the small businesses across the CIty of Winchester's footprint (over 2000 of them!) and encouraged listeners to seek them out for a multitude of reasons. Jenny also explained a few changes that are coming to how the Main Street Program is managed within the city's framework and told us about the new non-profit that's been formed to take over. We talked about what that might look like in 2024 and how it will allow for more collaborations, events, and resources for businesses in Old Town. Before we wrapped up, Jenny shared a few details about Old Town Winchester's New Year's Eve Glow Party & Laser Light Show. The event is hosted by Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. For more information about Old Town Winchester or to find upcoming events, visit their website: https://oldtownwinchesterva.com/ and follow them on Facebook.

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes Natalie Draper, Northfield Public Library Director and Arts & Culture Commission Staff Liaison. They will preview upcoming events and programs at the Library, promote the Hispanic Heritage Month Banner Design competition and the Artists on Main Street Program, and share information about the Arts & Culture Commission. Northfield […]

It was our final conversation today with Alex Flanigan in her role as Main Street Program Manager for the City of Winchester. When today's show aired, she has already moved on to a new career challenge. She took some time to talk with us last week (while she was still a city employee) and explained what will happen with the Main Street Program moving forward. Joining her was Katie Mooney-Buzby, Executive Director of the Peter Bullough Foundation and Chair for the (soon to be named) new Main Street non-profit organization. We talked about the changes that will be coming as the new organization finalizes its structure/non-profit status to become the agency of record for Old Town Winchester. Alex explained why this was the chosen path and told us all the reasons why it makes sense to have a new organization to maintain and manage many of the facets of downtown. Katie explained the purpose of Main Street organizations and talked about their goals and objectives for moving forward. Alex also gave us details for a few upcoming events, talked about First Fridays, and praised the improvements that have come (and continue to come) to Piccadilly Street. For the most up-to-date information, check their website: https://enjoyotw.com and follow Old Town Winchester on Facebook and Instagram. 

In today's podcast, The Practical Prof®, Dr. Santo D. Marabella, talks with friend, Mark Ratcliffe, about his vision for West Reading, Pennsylvania, with a look at how far they've come since establishing their organization 23 years ago, and where they are headed.Ratcliffe is an experienced Main Street Manager who creates activity within a downtown revitalization area and utilizes historic preservation as an integral foundation for core area economic development. He is responsible for the development and promotion of the Main Street Program and its events in West Reading, PA. Support the showOffice Hours with The Practical Prof®... and Friends is a production of Marabella Enterprises, a multi-media education and entertainment company. The Practical Prof® Website.

Our conversation for Tourism Tuesday - Old Town Winchester edition - with Alex Flanigan, Main Street Program for the City of Winchester gave details for several upcoming events that are happening in the next several weeks. Alex explained some of the preparation already underway for the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival and told listeners that the city has created a document that answers nearly every question residents & visitors might have about the festival. You can access that here: https://www.winchesterva.gov/shenandoah-apple-blossom-festival. We also talked about a new event that's been added in conjunction with the Bloomin' Wine Fest - an artisan & crafter show.  We talked about the improvements that are happening on Piccadilly Street and the anticipation of a new bakery opening later this month.  She gave some details for KidzFest happening on Saturday, May 13, 2023 and talked about some changes for Fiddles & Fifths. You can get more details and purchase your tickets by clicking here. Stay up to date on all the events happening in Old Town Winchester on their website: https://oldtownwinchesterva.com/ and by following them on Facebook.

Leigh Glendenning Roberts has called Celina, Texas, home for a long time, and she has a genuine heart for her hometown. When we asked her what she loves about Celina, her answer was beautiful. It may have been the best answer we've had to that particular question. On this episode of "Life in Celina," Leigh talks about her role getting the Main Street Program started in Celina and her role in the Celina Education Foundation. #lifeconnected– Celina Education Foundation: https://celinaeducationfoundation.org– Leigh Glendenning Real Estate: https://www.leighreal.com– The Little Wooden Penguin: https://littlewoodenpenguin.com– City of Celina: https://www.celina-tx.govMusic: Vocals by Jon Christopher DavisEngineered by Wextrax StudioMusic by Mark Metdker

About Us: Northeast Mississippi business owners, industry leaders, Main Street Directors, school and hospital leaders discuss what's happening in our "little postage stamp of native soil" - William Faulkner. Interviews are recorded in Ripley, MS at Sun Bear Studio, broadcast every day at 11 am on The Shark 102.3 FM Radio and added here to help you stay informed.   When broadcast on The Shark, the shows will either come from Main Street Moments or Heard It On The Shark.  On Main Street Moments, Melinda talks to area Main Street Directors, Chamber directors and small business owners.  Heard It On The Shark interviews are usually with industry, medical, non-profit and school leaders in North Mississippi.  If you would like to be considered for an interview, you can call us at 662-837-1023.  Ask for Melinda.     The Shark 102.3 FM Radio Station and Sun Bear Studio are located in Ripley, MS and owned by Chris and Melinda Marsalis.  Chris and Melinda have a passion for community development and love all of the amazing things that are going on in North Mississippi.  This week: Jeannie Zieren, Director of Communication & Marketing for the Mississippi Main Street Association,  is the Director of Communication and Marketing for the Mississippi Main Street Association. She enjoys promoting Mississippi's downtowns, and her work includes public and media relations, planning trainings for Main Street directors, conference and event planning, marketing and advertising, and communication services for the Main Street coordinating program in Mississippi. Jeannie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Mississippi State University and a Master's degree in journalism from the University of Mississippi. She received the Main Street America Revitalization Professional (MSARP) credential in 2018. Jeannie is a native of Jackson and a seventh generation Mississippian.  Jeannie talks to us about the four facets of the Main Street Program.  She talks about the cities and counties in North MS who are part of the program and tells listeners how they can get involved.  https://www.msmainstreet.com 

Small Business Spotlight on... the Digital Main Street Ontario Grants Program. $1 million has been distributed to Hamilton businesses through the Digital Main Street program that helps qualifying brick-and-mortar small businesses by way of a digital assessment, online training and a one-time $2,500 grant to implement their Digital Transformation Plan. Guest: Kristin Huigenbos, Coordinator, Hamilton Business Centre See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we're talking about Oneida County's Main Street Program, an initiative that provides county-level support to local municipal downtown development projects, assists in the redesign of main streets, and promotes investment and business growth. Joining NYSAC's Multimedia Specialist Kate Pierce to talk about the program is Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente.

BE SURE TO SEE THE SHOWNOTES AND LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE HERE. Eve Picker: [00:00:10] Hi there. Thanks, so much for joining me today for the latest episode of Impact Real Estate Investing.   Eve: [00:00:18] My guest today is Patrice Frey, the president and CEO of the National Main Street Center. Through the Center, Patrice and her team offer programs and guidance on placemaking, local entrepreneurship, facade improvements, crowdfunding and green habs, all in service of revitalizing commercial main streets in both big cities and small towns alike. Their network is very big with eighteen hundred members. If you want to hear why main streets matter, listen into our conversation.   Eve: [00:01:04] Be sure to go to evepicker.com to find out more about Patrice on the show notes page for this episode. And be sure to sign up for my newsletter so you can access information about impact real estate investing and get the latest news about the exciting projects on my crowdfunding platform, Small change.   Eve: [00:01:35] Good morning, Patrice. I'm really looking forward to our conversation today.   Patrice Frey: [00:01:39] Hi, Eve. Thanks for having me. I'm looking forward to it.   Eve: [00:01:42] Good. You have a pretty big job. The National Main Street Center now has eighteen hundred members. Is that right?   Patrice: [00:01:50] It is, yeah. Eighteen hundred members all across the country. Every state in the union, I think, except maybe saving Hawaii.   Eve: [00:01:59] Ok. That's pretty big. How has it grown under your watch? You've been there since 2013, is that right?   Patrice: [00:02:09] Yeah, I have. We launched as a subsidiary of the National Trust in 2013. Before then, we had been a program embedded at the National Trust for Historic Preservation and we have been very fortunate to see a strong membership growth in the last, in the last seven years or so. You know, those 18 hundred members are located all across the country. It's a really good mix of rural programs and more mid-sized and then quite a bit of representation in some larger cities as well. When we took over in 2013, the team had a real focus on reaching out to folks that had been members in the past and maybe they had lapsed. And we've also just put a tremendous focus on developing new content and new resources that have helped to, I think, attract people, attract people to the organization. Yeah. So, it's been really gratifying. We're so proud to have such a large and strong membership.   Eve: [00:03:10] So I have to ask, I suppose the main question is why Main Streets?   Patrice: [00:03:16] Well, great question. You know, Main Street is important, I think, in at least two ways. The first is they truly are in the heart of a community and people tend to feel about their town, the way they feel about their downtown, which is to say you've got a healthy, vibrant, thriving downtown. I think that's a real sense of pride, provides a real sense of pride and helps shape the identity, a positive identity for a community. And the reverse is true as well, where if you look at downtown and there's nothing happening, I think that can help sort of create a sense of distress and incredibly challenged. So, psychologically, we know main streets are extraordinarily important. They're really important for the quality of life factor, you know, providing restaurants, dynamic shopping experiences, all of that good stuff. But we also know that they're key to economic competitiveness, right? Because as the economy, we've seen these seismic changes in the economy in the last 10, 20 years, we know that people are more mobile and they're often picking where they live and then choosing a job. And that means for those employers, for local leaders, it's extraordinarily important that there are high quality places in those communities and downtowns have those qualities in abundance.   Eve: [00:04:40] So that's what's going to be my next question. Why is it important to save them? So, one reason is that it offers an option for people. But what if they didn't have that option? Why is it really important to save main streets?   Patrice: [00:04:54] A couple of reasons come to mind. The first is that often if you're looking in some of our more stressed areas, cross country, whether that's in rural or urban areas, other than the people, that commercial quarter is often the single greatest asset that that community has, right? It tends to be affordable, stay flexible, it's adaptable, it's walkable and we know more and more people are really appreciating the benefits of walkability. So, it really is an approach to asset based economic development that leverages what you already have. The other thing is main streets, particularly those, you know, those truly that were built like before the 1950s, you have just such a beautiful sense of character. They really reflect the local culture. They were built in a human scale. They're super, and I've already talked about adaptability, but that is extremely important, 5the fact that you can adapt these places, you know, you can do like light manufacturing, you can do a restaurant, you can do standard office. You can, you know, turn upstairs into apartments or condos. So, it's important and for many communities, this is the single biggest asset they've got.   Eve: [00:06:13] Yeah, I always find when I go to a small town or borough with a charming main street, I feel very comfortable with the scale. It's kind of very easy to relate to, which is a bit of a relief sometimes, I think.   Patrice: [00:06:28] It is, it is. And it's so funny because, you know, with Covid I've been spending a lot of time at home and I have a four-year-old son and we had checked out a book from the library on Roman design, Roman construction. And it's just, you know, looking at the sketches was just reminded that, you know, this is an urban form that has existed for millennia. And I think it's existed for a reason. It's certainly existed for purposes of transacting commerce, but it's also been a place that people go to connect with each other. And I think Covid is making us realize how much we appreciate having places to go.   Eve: [00:07:09] Yeah, and how much we miss it, right?   Patrice: [00:07:11] Yeah.   Eve: [00:07:12] So a hard question. How do we bring equity to small towns? This is the other pandemic, right?   Patrice: [00:07:21] Yeah, no, no, no. And yes, equally as concerning, if not more so. I think the first thing is acknowledging the problem for what it is and speaking openly about it. You know, in many communities, there is a legacy of African Americans being excluded that dates back to Jim Crow where African Americans were really only allowed downtown on certain days, during certain times to complete their shopping. So, I think some of it is really just acknowledging that in many ways main streets were, just have extraordinary histories of exclusion. And my own thinking is you only fix that by a truly intensive community engagement process where you are committed to reaching audiences and meeting members that you haven't had traditionally part of downtown and then programming in a way in which those communities, particularly African-American community, feels supported. We, at the Center, do a lot of work on entrepreneurial ecosystems, and we're taking a fresh look at that in terms of really understanding and helping communities embed within their work practices that really create for more diverse representation downtown.   Eve: [00:08:53] Yeah, I think exciting time about this moment is everyone I am talking to is really thinking about this issue very constructively. And I'm not sure that's ever happened before. It's going to be really wonderful to see, you know, what a year of thinking brings, right?   Patrice: [00:09:11] Yeah, it will. And I think now we've got to do the work, right? It's getting past the talking and acknowledging that, yeah, that we have a problem. And, you know, we're certainly, I personally am really committed to it, and then the organization, Main Street America, are very committed to it as well. You know, I think we're going to have more tools and resources, support our communities in this conversation in the coming months and I would also say, you know, we're eager to intensively engage in places where they're ready to have this conversation and, you know, they want to make some changes.   Eve: [00:09:50] Yeah. Yeah. What are the primary activities of the Main Street Center? How do you help communities?   Patrice: [00:09:57] So, we're the leading national revitalization organization nationally. So that means we can provide training, technical assistance, grants, networking opportunities. All of that good stuff. But we're probably best known for something called the Main Street approach, or the four point approach, which is a revitalization strategy that's been used now by about 2000 communities to help them really identify their values, identify their vision for downtown, and then program in a way to really make that happen. It's a very comprehensive approach. A lot of times what we see in economic development is, you know, kind of the  one-shot wonder where you build the stadium, or you build the museum or a baseball park, and expect that that will automatically transform an area. That is very rarely the case. Instead, what we know makes a big change, big differences, is small steps, incremental change over time in a way that really takes into consideration the design of the place, economic vitality, the strategies, how you're, what kind of place you're actually trying to create and how you are attractor helping those businesses. And of course, promoting it, marketing, marketing it, all that good stuff.   Eve: [00:11:19] Right now, what communities have you been working on?   Patrice: [00:11:24] Well, we do a lot of work in communities. Up until Covid, right?   Eve: [00:11:28] Yes. Yeah, yeah.   Patrice: [00:11:29] We have our field services team that I think was in 200 communities...   Eve: [00:11:35] You know, Covid19, I'm just astonished at the trickle-down effect. Every time I talk to someone there's another impact I haven't thought about.   Patrice: [00:11:45] Yeah, yeah. So, our field services typically visits, will visit at least 200 communities a year. And we have transitioned a lot of those services online. But particularly when you're talking about place, it's really tough work to do. Place and relationship building. It's really tough to do.   Eve: [00:12:11] Impossible remotely, right?   Patrice: [00:12:13] I won't say it's all impossible. I will say a lot of it is extremely difficult. Yeah.   Eve: [00:12:19] Yeah. I mean, you can only go so far.   Patrice: [00:12:22] Yeah. Exactly. So, you know, it's hard for me to pick a place where we're doing work, but, we're in so many places, but Ohio, we're doing some really exciting work there in a few of the heavily coal-impacted areas in terms of supporting the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems in that place. And I would say that work is almost certainly shifting off, because of Covid, to be focused on recovery as well.   Eve: [00:12:54] I suppose the question is, you know, how are you shifting your thinking because of this pandemic?   Patrice: [00:13:01] Well, yeah. So, I actually have great hope for main streets on the other side of all of this. I think the reason I'm so hopeful is because I think they, you know, like we talked about, they're so adaptable. And even though I think we're going to see the marketplace change a little bit, I think the space to sort of inherently, you know, we can do it, right Eve?   Eve: [00:13:33] Well, you know, I think main streets have a future because I think there are going to be a lot of people who want the calm, peace and space in places that have small main streets. Unfortunately, I think we're going to go through a period of time where downtowns in larger cities might be scary for some people. And that could be to the advantage of smaller communities.   Patrice: [00:13:59] Well, I think that's right. And I think we are also seeing where so many of our big cities were reaching peak unaffordability.   Eve: [00:14:07] Oh, yeah, there that too.   Patrice: [00:14:09] Yeah, that combined with the dynamic of, you know, people wanting a little bit more space and realizing that they can work from anywhere. I do think that bodes well for rural towns. I just feel like Americans have reconnected with the value of walkability in recent years. And, you know, I think that persists on the other side of this as well. Even though the economic impacts are going to be severe, we're going to have vacancies, storefront vacancies that we're, you know, going to be challenged by, overall, I think, we come out for the better.   Eve: [00:14:44] Yeah. So, storefront vacancies were happening before the pandemic, right? Because retail was really shifting dramatically.   Patrice: [00:14:52] Yeah. Because we're so massively overbuilt in terms of commercial space especially.   Eve: [00:14:57] And I think because retail activities have changed so much in the last few years.   Patrice: [00:15:02] Absolutely.   Eve: [00:15:02] So, what does that mean for main streets? I mean, hasn't it changed so much in small places? I mean, I like having my groceries delivered from Whole Foods or Costco or somewhere, but I don't know if that's possible in a small town, so...   Patrice: [00:15:17] Yeah, yeah. From what I've seen, probably not. I guess maybe there have been some changes. Maybe there will be some changes. We are seeing where, particularly larger retailer vacancies, were really starting to be a problem. My impression is that those tended to be in places, maybe central business district downtown, the malls, the lifestyle centers, et cetera. But I don't tend to see those national retailers concentrated quite so heavily on our main streets, at least in the type of communities that we're working with. So, I'm a little bit, you know, less concerned about that dynamic there, because we were seeing, people were really being extraordinarily creative in creating an experience at customers. And whether that was a restaurant or retail. Yeah. And so, again, I think, you know, none of the fundamentals have changed. And so, I see that continuing on the other side.   Eve: [00:16:18] Yeah. So, it's maybe a shift towards slightly different retail types. Which is kind of exciting to think about.   Patrice: [00:16:26] Yes, it is, it is. I mean, I don't know about you, but I, I am sick of like trying to online shop for clothes.   Eve: [00:16:34] Oh, I hate it.   Patrice: [00:16:36] I want somewhere I can look at them, you know, like touch them, feel them, like, you know that sort of human want, you know. I think that it's real and doesn't go away.   Eve: [00:16:48] So, I'd love to hear about, like, an accomplishment you're really proud of or a project that you thought sort of exemplified what you do at the Main Street Center, something that's, that you love.   Patrice: [00:17:01] Yeah. Well, I love that you ask that question, thank you. We are working on an advocacy campaign right now to ask for congressional support for, I mean through organizations, and so, I have been so heartened and just thrilled to see the way that our network has really rallied behind this cause. Unfortunately, state and local Main Street Programs are in peril. We know fiscal budgets, which are a big source of funding for these programs, are badly endangered. And so, we have been rallying and approaching Congress about what sounds like a large number to me, but I'm told is actually a small number. We've been rallying around a 100 million dollar ask to ensure that we can sustain these main street programs when small businesses need them most. You know, these Main Street Programs, the leaders of these programs are the folks on the ground who are helping the small businesses with their PPP application or they're directing them to local community foundations for grants or making sure they understand what might be available through the state. They're also sometimes in the room negotiating with landlords for rent forgiveness or forbearance. In this moment, what I'm most excited about, most proud of, is the way that folks have rallied to Main Street's defence. And I'm pleased that Congress seems to be listening. We have a long way to go yet, but I'm feeling good about it.   Eve: [00:18:44] Awesome, that sounds fantastic. So, I'm just shifting a little bit to you. What's your background and how did you, what led you to this role?   Patrice: [00:18:54] Well, it was a meandering path. So   Eve: [00:18:57] They're always the good ones.   Patrice: [00:19:00] Well, you know, some people, some people know. Like my husband, you know, knew in third grade what he wanted to do and he's doing it today. So, I, to make a long story short, I ended up at Brookings Institution. That was the Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy at that point. And right after, soon after college, because I just love cities and, you know, I was sort of leaning towards the idea of a planning degree. And then I ended up on a tour in downtown Tacoma, Washington, with my dad. And, you know, we had this tour guide. Michael Sullivan, very well known locally, who captured my ardent attention. He just took us down, through downtown, telling the stories of the buildings. And I thought, OK, well, this is what I want to do. So, from there I, because I had really been interested in policy and really interested in architecture, and so I figured, OK, this is preservation is really a melding of those two things. So, from there, I took my time, but I ended up in grad school at Penn for preservation in the Design School. And I did my thesis actually on the greening of older historic buildings and ended up at the National Trust working as their research director. And then it's it was a lot, I had so much fun in that job working on sustainability and older buildings. And then Main Street came along and I thought, well, you know, there are a lot of parallels between, a lot of threads, between sustainability and main streets. And so, I threw my name in the hat and here I am.   Eve: [00:20:50] That's fabulous. So, you get to run this really pretty unique organization.   Patrice: [00:20:56] I love it.   Eve: [00:20:57] And spend time on main streets.   Patrice: [00:20:59] When times are normal, I get to see some of the most beautiful, most special places that I think people often never see. So, I am really grateful for that.   Eve: [00:21:11] So what's one of the most beautiful, most special places you've seen?   Patrice: [00:21:17] So, a couple come to mind immediately. One is Emporia, Kansas. And I wouldn't say it's like beautiful in the way that, you know, you might think about a landscape or something. But it's a city of, I think it's twenty-five thousand, it's near nothing, right, which is to say, I think Kansas City is a good two and a half, three hours away. And they have done such an extraordinary job of nurturing entrepreneurship there and have had just like success story after success story. I want to say that the Main Street Program has helped to support something like 70 or 80 new business starts there. They will allow good stuff with housing downtown. Just extraordinarily dynamic leadership. Great community. Yeah, just, just...   Eve: [00:22:11] In an unexpected place, right?   Patrice: [00:22:13] Yeah. Yeah. And then, you know, the other thing that I realize is, well the other, to one of the other key lessons I've learned, it's from place called Edenton, North Carolina, and it's an absolutely charming downtown. But sometimes with the preservation lens you can look at a place and say like, "oh, that facade isn't", you know, "that facade isn't quite right", "those windows...", etc., etc.. And there's a lot of what I would describe as imperfect preservation there, but I say that with no judgment. The thing I realized is, you know, it's really not about the way it looks, it's about what's happening at 2:00 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon, which is: Is this vibrant? Are people using this space? Are they getting what they need? And, you know, Edenton is absolutely just incredible.   Eve: [00:23:06] Oh, I'm going to have to put them on my bucket list.   Patrice: [00:23:08] Yeah, it is right on the water. It's a beautiful, beautiful place. I'm probably getting my history wrong, but I think it was very briefly the capital of North Carolina.   Eve: [00:23:18] Fabulous. So, do you think socially responsible real estate is necessary in today's development landscape?   Patrice: [00:23:26] I think it's absolutely essential. I'm pleased to see that, you know, there is a bit more attention on it than perhaps in the past. My two big concerns when it comes to real estate are, well really three, building in a way that truly supports the community, is in line with the community's vision. The second is building with time in mind. Meaning, I think so much of what gets constructed today is just utter crap.   Eve: [00:23:57] Oh, yeah, I agree.   Patrice: [00:23:58] And it will, it will not stand the stand the test of time either design wise or, you know, the fundamentals, the physical structures are so poorly constructed. And then the third thing that is, again, just kind of how I look at the world, is the reuse factor. You know, I tend to really gravitate to projects, you know appreciate projects, that are making use of an old building in some form or some fashion because they, the research I did early on in my career regarding the carbon impacts associated with new construction, was kind of formative in my thinking about this. I mean, there are just massive, massive impacts associated with constructing new buildings and tearing down old ones. And it's just critically important that we're giving that our full attention as we're designing these places.   Eve: [00:24:52] Yeah, and, you know, I've done a lot of reuse projects and I find people really love the idea that they're living in or occupying something that has a history. So, it's a shame to eradicate it. It's useful today.   Patrice: [00:25:09] Yeah. And Eve, you are a hero, a true champion among the development community for the work you've done on.   Eve: [00:25:19] Oh, thank you.   Patrice: [00:25:19] Yeah, and reuse. I think you're right. I mean, I do think there's an element of the human psyche that finds it very important to connect to elements of the past. And that's what building reuse allows us to do. I mean, unfortunately, so much of what is being constructed today, you know, has so little value that, yeah, it's hard to imagine 50 years from now that people are going to be fighting to save those places.   Eve: [00:25:46] Yes. Yep. Shifting gears again, what community engagement tools have you seen that have worked best? I know you talked about going further with them in the future, but I'm just wondering what works?   Patrice: [00:26:02] Yeah. So, I mean, there's certainly the you hold a meeting and you see who shows up and you create the space for them to, for everyone to have a voice and to talk. And that's very important. But there are two engagement tools in particular that we've had some success within recent years. One are surveys. I mean, obviously, that's a little bit different and limited because you're not having a dynamic conversation with someone. But that can be extraordinarily helpful in reaching a larger community group about and engaging them in terms of how they want to see their downtown evolve. And the second, and this is really important, is going to where they are, right? So, which is to say, if you have groups that just tend to not engage downtown and yet, you know, there's a festival happening or there's some sort of gathering, churches, what have you. That can be a great place to go and engage directly, you know, hand somebody a survey and talk to them at the same time. That's been extraordinarily valuable.   Eve: [00:27:04] Oh, interesting. And then I have to ask this question. Do you think equity crowdfunding can play a role in building main streets? I'm hoping the answer is yes.   Patrice: [00:27:15] Money? Absolutely. Absolutely. And I think that crowdfunding, is probably the most exciting thing I've seen come along and real estate, I'd say full stop. Precisely because I think it creates a foundation for better community engagement, literally community buy-in.   Eve: [00:27:35] Yes. Yeah, that's the important bit. Yeah.   Patrice: [00:27:37] Yeah. And that is, you know, that's what it's all about.   Eve: [00:27:42] Yeah, so they get to vote with their dollars. I mean, they also get to see the upside.   Patrice: [00:27:49] They do. They do. Yeah.   Eve: [00:27:51] Yeah. That's what I love about it. So final question, what's next for the Center and what's next for you if you're looking five years ahead, like what are the big goals?   Patrice: [00:28:03] Oh boy, I can answer the one for the Center pretty easily.   Eve: [00:28:07] Well, the 100 million for sure, right. That's a really big goal.   Patrice: [00:28:10] After we get our 100 million and I go on vacation...I will not go on vacation. In terms of what's next for the Center it is a renewed focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. You know, we've recently been doing some strategic planning that we've completely, I think, rethought our strategic plan to be aligned with goals of enhancing equity on main streets. I don't want to be Pollyanna-ish about this and say, you know, we're going to be able to snap our fingers and massive changes overnight but I do think we're going to focus on creating tools and partnerships that will really support communities who want to have this conversation, are committed to creating a more diverse representation downtown. So, you're going to see more resources come from the Center focused on the diversity issue. You know, the five-year question, Eve, is a really hard one because I'm spending all the time with Main Street. So, every year sort of presents a new challenge and you never know what's coming down the road for you. I hope that, you know, five years from now, we've got double the membership and that we honestly have really engaged on the diversity issue in a really meaningful way.   Eve: [00:29:38] Yeah, I think that's a good goal. And I hope there's quite a few more main streets with less vacant storefronts.   Patrice: [00:29:45] That's a good hope as well.   Eve: [00:29:48] Well, thank you very much for talking to me today. And I'm really looking forward to seeing what else, what else happens.   Patrice: [00:29:54] Thanks Eve, great to talk to you as well.   Eve: [00:30:08] That was Patrice Frey, the president and CEO of The National Main Street Center. Patrice impressed on me the importance of main streets. These commercial corridors are often the single biggest asset that a neighborhood or small town has. They are the center of commercial activity, often full of well-built, historic buildings, and they are the heart of their community. It's important that they thrive. It's important that they are saved and reused in ways that befit the way we live today.   Eve: [00:30:47] You can find out more about impact real estate investing and access the show notes for today's episode at my website, evepicker.com. While you're there, sign up for my newsletter to find out more about how to make money in real estate while building better cities.   Eve: [00:31:04] Thank you so much for spending your time with me today. And thank you, Patrice, for sharing your thoughts with me. We'll talk again soon but for now, this is Eve Picker signing off to go make some change.  

Sanger is the leading ambassador and advocate for museums in New York. She produces programs that promote best practices and deepen connections with members and constituents. She seeks new programs and funding opportunities for museums and the organization; maintains and develops relationships with stakeholders including museum professionals, industry partners, state and federal funding agencies, private foundations, local, state, regional, and federal government officials, and leaders of peer institutions and arts organizations. Created a state-wide partnership with Smithsonian Institutions Museum on Main Street Program. Doubled organizational membership and income. Instrumental in legislative initiatives to secure new state funding sources for museums. Destination on the Left is joined again by Erika Sanger, Executive Director of the Museum Association of New York State! She made her first appearance on Episode #25, where we talked about the role of museums in New York State’s tourism and economic development. But a lot has changed since then. On our podcast, Erika discusses the different ways museums continue to innovate and change to meet visitor needs during the pandemic. From online and virtual programming to redefining the physical spaces, this part of our industry is doing everything possible to adapt. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Erika’s role as the Executive Director of the Museum Association of New York State How the changes Erika’s organization has made over the last several years prepared them to pivot during the pandemic How Erika has helped and supported other members of her industry throughout the pandemic Which parts of the museum have taken the largest hit from the pandemic, and how that will impact them moving forward The silver linings to the global pandemic and its impact on museums How museums have leveraged different platforms to create a profound virtual experience for visitors to enjoy at home The Museum Association of New York State Erika Sanger is the Executive Director of the Museum Association of New York State. She made her first appearance on Episode #25, where we talked about the role of museums in New York State’s tourism and economic development. But a lot has changed since then. On our podcast, Erika discusses the different ways museums continue to innovate and change to meet visitor needs during the pandemic. From online and virtual programming to redefining the physical spaces, this part of our industry is doing everything possible to adapt. Stretched Thin, But Still Fighting It has been nearly six months since the global pandemic shut down our world economy, closed borders, and brought the travel industry to a complete standstill. We are doing everything in our power to keep up, and the levels of creativity and collaboration in the travel industry are evolving at an unprecedented rate. As the world slowly re-opens under limited circumstances, associations like the Museum Association of New York State are leading the charge, helping the struggling industry stay afloat and build momentum. The Post-COVID Museum Experience All of this change and adaptation begs the question, what will the post-COVID museum experience and landscape actually look like? With such a massive economic hit, many of the client-facing positions of the industry have been eliminated. We have lost so many future leaders of their respective fields, and the only thing museums can do is hope for more support and continue to be resilient. Increased social media presence, data collection, and a general pivot to virtual was the ultimate savior of museums at this time. They are creating the virtual mirror of the museum experience as we know it, and it has seen great success. Website: www.nysmuseums.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-sanger-7b8202a/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/museum-association-of-new-york Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nysmuseums Twitter: @erika3791 @nysmuseums

In this video, Teresa Shaver from the Business Advisory Centre Durham talks about BACD's mission for helping other businesses. Teresa also talks about BACD's new Digital Main Street Program and what is being offered. For more information about BACD and the Digital Main Street Program, scroll down below. BACD Website: https://bacd.ca/ Phone: 905-668-4949 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bacd.sbec/ Email: clientservices@bacd.ca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bacd.sbec Twitter: https://twitter.com/BACD_SBEC LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-advisory-centre-durham Music: Music from https://filmmusic.io "Funkorama" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Music from https://filmmusic.io "Rainbows" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Here’s your weekly update from the Rio Blanco Herald Times for the week of June 18, 2020. Rio Blanco County has a second confirmed case of COVID-19. The first confirmed case was reported April 2, and that person has fully recovered. Public Health cannot confirm whether the positive is in Meeker or Rangely, but Director Alice Harvey stated the person has been on both ends of the county. If you are identified by contact tracing, you will be notified and can get tested. A different kind of bug is also making its way around. Rio Blanco County has an outbreak of Mormon crickets. The 2 to 3 inch insects have infested properties along Strawberry Creek Road and have also been spotted on China Wall. Mormon crickets are actually a species of shield-backed katydid, but they take their name from Mormon history. In 1848, a swarm of the insects were eating all the crops of starving Mormon pioneers near Salt Lake, Utah. The pioneers prayed for deliverance, and according to the tale, a huge flock of California gulls swooped in and gobbled up the insects over a two week period, saving the crops and the lives of the pioneers in the process. Mormon crickets, like many insects, are edible and nutritious for humans, too … if you can get over the ick factor. About 2100 years ago, the Ute and Paiute indian tribes would harvest the insects, dry them, ground them into flour, and bake them into bread. Rumor has it they taste quite sweet. Find that story on Page 1A. Approximately 20 Rangely residents held an event Tuesday in remembrance of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. The peaceful vigil, organized by Peter Forbes and Julie Noyes of Rangely, included readings, videos and 8 minutes and 46 seconds of candlelit silence. It tturned into quite the spectacle, however after a resident posted rumors on a Facebook page that the group Black Lives Matter would be bussing in “lots of out of town people.” The post cautioned residents to be “ready for protection.” The swirling rumors drew more than 200 spectators, who surrounded the vigil participants for the entire ceremony. Some snapped photos. Some peered through binoculars. Others carried political flags. One man held a cardboard sign reading, “we support our police department.” Most just watched. The Facebook rumors proved to be unfounded. No buses came, no outside protestors appeared. The event remained peaceful and anticlimactic. Our story begins on Page 1A. Jammin’ Lamb has been canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. A final decision on whether to go ahead with the Meeker Classic Sheepdog Championship Trials will be made August 1. More info on page 2A Thanks to the College Opportunity Fund, tuition will be waived for some Rangely residents who choose to attend Colorado Northwestern Community College. 2.1 million dollars in tuition is available. Find more details, and eligibility requirements, on page 7A. Meeker’s Main Street Program is moving forward with several local downtown projects. The primary purpose of the program is to preserve historic downtowns, according to manager Stephanie Kobald. You can learn more about the Program and check out a map of the designated downtown area on page 3B. That’s all for this week. Check out the rest in print and online at ht1885.com Thank you for supporting community journalism. Intro and outro music: Madness is Everywhere (ID 1228) by Lobo Loco is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Show Notes: Guest: Natalie Kahler, Executive Director of the Brooksville Main Street Program Ms. Kahler will share with everyone what the Brooksville Main Street Program is all about. She will also provide you with the different events that are being planned. The Brooksville Main Street Provide website can be found at www.historicdowntownbrooksville.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/natalie-kahler/message

Why should you attend the Main Street Now Conference in Seattle, March 25-27, 2019? Should you attend even if you aren't a Main Street community? What other educational opportunities does the National Main Street Center offer?  Well, find out in this episode! GUEST INFORMATION: Name: Kelly Humrichouser Organization: National Main Street Center Title: Associate Manager of Education   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MainStreetNowConference/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MainStreetsConf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natlmainstreet/ SHOW NOTE Kelly wanted me to be sure to note the following: The Main Street Now Conference is not possible without the hard work and support of our state-wide partners, including the Washington Main Street Program and Washington Trust for Historic Preservation (Seattle, 2019) and the Missouri Main Street Connection (Kansas City, 2018). SHOW TRANSCRIPT Megan Tsui: Hello, everybody. Today my guest is Kelly Humrichouser from the National Main Street Center, and I'm so excited to have Kelly on with me today to talk about National Main Street and the National Main Street Conference that's coming up in March in Seattle. So welcome, Kelly. Kelly Humrichouser: Thank you. Thanks for having me, Megan. Great to talk to you again. M: Yeah. I actually met Kelly when I was at a, what was it called - Historic Real Estate Certification Course through the National Development Center. Is that right? Did I get that right? K: Very, very close. We did the Historic Real Estate Finance Series Certificate Program offered through the National Development Council. And the Main Street America Institute was able to partner with the National Development Council to bring that content to Main Street managers and other historic real estate professionals. And, so yeah, we met in Des Moines and we were just in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago, and now we're here. M: Yeah, and I, that was probably the hardest class I've taken outside of, outside of, you know, college algebra. But I think it was so helpful and so good. And most people didn't think it was hard. So, it was just me. K: I thought it was hard too. I was very grateful that I was able to participate in the course and kind of be the coordinator for bringing that content through the institute to the group of people that we had with us. So it was like really wonderful because it’s really hands-on and you do have to do a lot of math. But at the end of the day, you're able to just understand so much more of the conversation around development in all these communities. M: Well that's what I was, that's why I went and why I decided that that was going to be an important thing and my, why my board said yes to the travel costs and things like that. But what was great is I got some scholarship money from, you want to talk about the scholarship opportunity? And then also the there was some travel cost reimbursement because we're a smaller Main Street. So just mention that quick because I want to make sure people know about that great resource. K: Yeah. We were able, through the support that we had from the 1772 foundation, to subsidize highly, highly, the cost of this course so that Main Street managers are able to participate. We know that two weeks during any year out of the office to do an in-person training that also has a cost admin training process associated, it's a lot, it's a lot for anybody to handle. So we highly highly subsidized the course through that partnership. And we were also able to provide a few travel scholarships to make it a lot easier for people to be in an AirBnB or a hotel for a week while they're kind of going out to these different communities. So, we do hope to be able to do that again in the future. Always kind of an interest from our network in that possibility. But just, you know, everyone that was involved. We're so grateful to the support of the 1772 Foundation and our partners at the National Development Council. That's something that, you know, we want to continue to work with them because they have such great knowledge on how economic development and real estate deals really work. M: Well and I, you know, as a small, you know Main Street organization, we wouldn't have been able to do it without those, that help. And so we really appreciate the National Main Street and the foundation, and the National Development Center, we’re able to collaborate and bring that all together and make it affordable so thanks for your efforts on that and everyone else's. And I think, would people be able to learn about those opportunities if they get on your mailing list? Because I believe that's where I saw it. K: Yeah absolutely. In fact, you know, specific to the educational opportunities, I would encourage anybody who's interested in future opportunities like that to email msai@savingplaces.org. I'm sure we'll put that in the details but msai@savingplaces.org is for the institute specifically and that will get you kind of on my list to tell you specifically about opportunities like this that you might be interested in. Generally, we encourage everybody to always pay attention to everything that you're receiving. If you're a Main Street Member or you're just interested in keeping up to date with our with our weekly news. There are so many opportunities that come through our regular mailing list as well. M: All right, we'll make sure to put that in the show note so people have a link to get to that easily. OK. So, that's how we met, that's how we got to know each other a little bit. We sat at the same table. We laughed a lot and I thought it would be so great for you to come on the podcast and talk about what National Main Street is and then what is the big conference that's coming up and why someone who is a Main Street Community, inside of Main Street Community, would want to attend. And then why somebody who isn't part of the Main Street Program yet might want to attend. So, let's get started. What, what is National Main Street? K: Yeah. The National Main Street Center, and some folks probably know it as Main Street America, are really kind of one and the same. So either way that you're using those terms, we're a national organization that supports commercial district revitalization across the country. Most people call the Main Streets in some other places, they might be neighborhoods, commercial districts, and larger urban areas. We're really focused on both. And we provide, you know, education training and networking opportunities. Our conference and the advocacy technical assistance, really, we tried to do a little bit of everything and hopefully, we do it successfully. So we've been around for about 40 years it was a program started by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the late 70s, early 80s, to try to bring back life to places that were kind of disinvested. You know, when you started building more, new construction out towards highways and maybe downtowns, weren't seeing as much, as much of the action. And so, in the shopping mall era, a lot of, a lot of downtowns weren't thriving, and so this effort was started by the National Trust really for the preservation of buildings but also the community. And then it's grown into more of an economic development format. And so, it's a very interdisciplinary way to look at bringing life to downtowns, but it works and it works really well. So now we are an independent non-profit. Well we're still very closely partnered with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. But we try to bring tools to folks like yourself out in Red Wing and in communities across the country. M: Well, I think it's just about the coolest thing because, as you said, it does, it's comprehensive, and what a lot of people don't always see about their downtown is how it's such a mix of both residential, commercial, community, nonprofits, churches. There's just so many different things that happen in a lot of our downtowns and so to have a organization like the National Main Street Center understand that and then help us create a foundation and create a way for us to, you know, wear more boots on the ground, support that, is just, it's phenomenal. And I'm glad the organization is here and that it continues to get funded, and I hope it continues to because it's, it's economic development at the very heart of our communities. So, I love it. Okay, and what is your role there Kelly? K: Well, my role as, my title is Associate Manager of Education. And what that means for me on a day to day is that I manage programming for our Main Street America Institute. That's the program that we were talking about previously that was a partnership with the National Development Council but through the Main Street America Institute. The Institute is really a credentialing program for folks that are working in commercial district revitalization as Main Street directors or managers to hone their skills, to learn new skills, to kind of have a checkpoint for their competency as a Main Street Manager. And we offer a credential called the Main Street America Revitalization Professional Credential. That's kind of the pinnacle of achievement in our world right now, I believe. And it's a program that has been built upon a previous program that was offered through the Main Street Center called the Certified Main Street Manager Program. That program, you know, existed for about 20 years and kind of went through a hiatus period and now we've brought it back kind of as the Main Street America Institute. So we do online courses and workshops and in addition to that I also work on education through our conference, which I know we will talk much more about, but there are over 100 education sessions and special events, kind of other jazz. And then as with any nonprofit, you know, everybody has their other duties as assigned. So I hope I try to make myself helpful in other ways. But, you know, our team is varied and kind of constantly in kind of dynamic shifts and always everybody's kind of helping each other out. So just as with any, I'm sure, Main Street program our team is constantly doing a million things. M: Yeah. And yeah sometimes it's slow, sometimes it's crazy and you have to be ready to do it, step in. I think that's just the nature of the Main Street, I don't know, it's almost like you're the pathos of Main Street. K: Right. M: Jump in wherever you need to. K: Right, right, right. M: What's your background? How did you get started in this area of work? K: It's, you know, it's one of those circuitous paths, I think. My first job I think, I had a couple of jobs when I was like 16, and one was at a candy and gift shop on a Main Street in my town and the other was a soda fountain, like a historic soda fountain. I was like a soda jerk. M: Woah, you were like original, OG Main Street stuff right there. K: Right. Right. The soda fountain, I mean I loved the place. It closed, I think, in 2002 after 96 years in business. But it was really interesting back then to kind of see the little system that the downtown business owners and how everyone worked together and how they were working with the city when the city was trying to build a new development behind the Main Street and kind of understand all those dynamics. And at that time I heard about the Main Street program, but it kind of, I think, went over my head, like, I was like, “Oh, what? People do this as a, as a job.” That’s crazy, but, you know, I went to undergrad and took a course that was focused on historic preservation when I was a senior. I kind of got a job eventually after college. Got into a historic preservation program. And through that, and kind of very dynamic different circumstances, I was like, “Oh yeah, Main Street Center makes a whole lot of sense for me.” I had a background in some educational programming, so it really kind of came together. But yeah, it's something you, I don't know if anybody, really aims for that or if it's just kind of something that happens you know. M: Right, yeah, I don't know a lot of like, 16-year-olds are, like, “I can't wait to work on Main Street.” K: Right. Right. But maybe they should, right? M: We should change that. So you have a huge conference coming up here in March that I'm really excited for, for many reasons. Tell us about that. What's coming up? K: Yes. So every year we have the Main Street Now Conference. This is annually the largest national gathering of downtown revitalization professionals, Main Street managers. We've had, I think, last year we had more than sixteen hundred attendees. So we're actually expecting a bigger turnout this year. The conference is March 25th to 27th in Seattle, Washington. And Seattle is just such a cool destination. I can imagine that, you know, a real drop for some people, just being able to come out to the Pacific Northwest if you, if you haven't been before. But, you know, relative to the content, you know, like I said previously, we've got over 100 education sessions and some really cool special events planned. And you can still register, so you can register up until the day of the event if you, if you want to come out. But I would say for anybody who's listening, look at it fast because hotels are going quick and, you know, you want to make sure you get in there and plan your experience a little bit. M: Yeah, I can't wait. I mean the last year was my first conference. It was in Kansas City. And I had such an amazing time that it was just so great to be around other people like me. I mean other people who are, most people are outgoing. They're community-minded, and that doesn't just mean their community, it means the community of Main Street. And they're fun and curious and it just, it was such a great experience to be around all these people who love their Main Streets and love their downtowns just like I do. So, I can't say enough about that conference and how great it was. All the sessions I went to were very well done. The facility was amazing. It was just top notch. So, I love it. I am doing a couple of sessions there too. So I'm excited to, connect with some people in that way as well. So, what is the one session you think that is, you're most excited for people to take advantage of. I mean, besides mine! But what are the other ones? I have one in mind that I can't wait to go to, but I want to hear what yours is. Do you have one? K: You tell me about yours first so that we don't pick the same one, and it feels unethical for me to pick one. M: OK, fine I'll tell you. The one that I think I'm pretty excited for is the one about how to have dogs downtown. K: Oh that's so great! I've been communicating with Britin, who is the speaker there. She's got some excellent resources to bring and it is an issue that we, you know, we were like very excited when someone submitted on the topic because it is something that so many downtown programs need to deal with. I know, you know, my mom wants to bring her dog everywhere. M: Yeah, exactly. K: I'm like, how do we do this best? M: If you live in California, everybody does bring their dogs everywhere. They're in the grocery stores, they're in, they're not service dogs, they're just dogs. And so and I think it can be a competitive advantage for our community. I know there's, there's a community not far from here that's very small. And I mean I think they may have a couple hundred people. They still have a few historic buildings from their downtown and they just come alive in the summer and then they have you know the Dog Days of Stockholm, where they have a weekend where thousands and thousands of people come out with their dogs to this little town and just take over. And I just think it's brilliant. It's just such a great marketing strategy. So that's why I'm excited to hear about it. K: Yeah. That's a good pick. Like I say I feel a little bit, you know I don't want to steer too many, too many people in one direction or the other based on what I would think. I'm pretty excited for some of our kind of general sessions, so go ahead and plug those. We have Jim and Deb Fallows. They're authors of a book called Art Sounds. M: I didn't know that. K: Yeah, they're going to come on Tuesday morning for a general session discussion with our president and CEO Patrice Frye. So, we're very excited about that. They've been wonderful partners so far and so we're going to have their book and have a book signing as well, so we're excited about several of our general sessions. But I also want to say specifically, I'm excited this year. We have a focus on, leadership and partnerships. And so we've given a significant discount to civic leaders. We're talking elected officials and people in upper-level management positions of municipalities to attend the conference for an extremely reduced rate. And this is something, you know, we're gearing educational programming specifically for them. There's a luncheon hosted by our Board Chair, Ed McMahon, specifically for the civic leaders at the conference to learn how they can better support a Main Street program. And for them to really feel the value of the Main Street program in their communities. And that's really huge for us because we know that those partnerships are so important. And for some communities to have, kind of be the strength that they need at the table with their city team, it'd be really great if we could tell them a little bit more about all the possibilities that Main Street could bring. So we're really jazzed about that. M: That is so exciting because if you don't have, in my experience anyway, and even in the experience that I've seen in other towns in Minnesota if you don't have your city leaders on board, it's such an uphill battle. And so if you can get them to these sessions, get them to hear about the great work that Main Street does and encourage them to help support a membership to National Main Street and/or their state Main Street, what a huge effort that goes towards making it happen in the community. So thank you to the National Main Street Center for offering that discount because I think that is a game changer for a lot of, especially smaller communities. So thank you for that. K: Yeah we hope so. You know it's something that we hope it, it's a relationship that you could bring to the conference and then continue to grow from there so that it's not you know a one-stop event but really begins the discussion. M: Right. And I'm, you know, what I love about the conferences, it's things that are very practical. Those are the things that I'm talking about. I'm doing a session on hosting a retail challenge. How to fill vacant storefronts in your downtown. And then the other one is how to tell your downtown story with social media. So you'll come away with real actionable things that Main Street has actually done. It's not theoretical, it's very action oriented. And a lot of the sessions are like that, you know, my hand hurt last year from taking notes to really dive into all of the different presentations and ideas. But then you also learn about things like the topic of this, you know, what we just talked about, was, the leadership and the partnerships and building those kinds of things that kind of make having a main street and being a main street manager easier when you have those partnerships and collaborations. Those don't always, you can't, that is not a one size fits all. That's a lot of times, you know, there are personalities involved, there's different budgeting processes that are involved, etc. But you get to hear about how other people have done it and get inspired. So I think that's what I love about the conference the most, is, it's both higher level and then also nuts and bolts right down on the ground of what you can take back to your main street tomorrow and get working on. K: With that in mind I'm gonna plug one session that I think is a really, a great idea that has been proposed just for this conference and our state coordinator in Virginia, Rebecca Rowe, and Diana Schwartz, who is the Executive Director of the River District Association in Danville Virginia, are doing a session and we've scheduled it for kind of in the afternoon. But after the conference, how to make it happen. So the concept there is to bring together what you're learning because there are so many ideas. You're gonna have so many notes. And we do need to check in sometimes and really think like, how do you take this home and implement it. So if any session that I would individually plug, I'll give it to that one. M: That's a good one because it encompasses everything. It's very safe. Good job. K: Thank you. M: So if you are, I think it's pretty clear, we made pretty clear why if you're a Main Street Community, why you should attend. I think that's not necessarily hard to imagine the reasons why, but what if you aren't yet? What if you're Joe Blow or Jane Doe working in a community, working on downtown and stuff along your main street but you're not a member, why should you attend this? K: Yeah, that's such a great question. And I love it because, you know, so often we find that there's a perception out in the world that if you're not from a recognized, certified Main Street America community then this isn't for you somehow. And it actually, it is. We have folks from so many different fields: planners, architects, developers, government staff, as we were talking about before, and volunteers, board members, interested community members, always, I think, take away a lot from the conference as well.  It's always interdisciplinary content. It's issues that are not just for somebody who necessarily is managing the downtown. You could be a small business owner in the downtown and take a lot away from that session on pets on Main Street as well, you know. We also do offer credit for the American Institute of Certified Planners and the American Institute of Architects continuing education, so professionals from those fields, we are we are trying to make it easier for them to attend because it can be kind of a checking off a box or they need to have in their career path on their on this list. So we are doing that type of outreach, but this is a conference that's just about so much. It's about how communities work, and so if you're in a community and trying to make it work, which applies to just a myriad of types of people, then this is for you, you know. And then, as we talked about before, we have an emphasis on partnerships and we want to make sure that all of the partners at the table as well. So, you know, of course, that includes the elected officials and civic leaders that we were talking about, but it could include any type of partnership. I would also encourage a Main Street manager, think of the conference as something that you can also reach out to other folks in your town and encourage them to come with you, especially if there's some topic that you're trying to tackle together. This might be a great place to kind of get some ideas for it. M: That’s what I noticed last year is that there were some kind of groups from one community, and a lot of times it was the mayor, it was Member 2 from the Council, the main street manager, maybe the chamber director or, you know, so that just makes so much sense to come together. You get to go to different sessions or the same sessions if it's around something that you're out working towards and then come together and talk about what you learned. And so, it's just such a great way to learn and to expand and to be inspired. I will say what you bring up about planners, developers, architects. That is kind of a group that I don't assume, you know, would go to something like this, but yet they are the ones with the money. I mean, they're the ones with the connections to the developers and to investors and to the banks in their community, who've worked on projects, especially in historic preservation or with historic tax credits or whatever. And they're the ones that are visionaries, and so that's been a pleasant surprise for me. I mean, the other group I kind of assumed would go that makes sense but this other group of, those other kinds of professionals, it's been such a pleasant surprise for me to meet them and learn more about how they're working inside Mean Streets. And I just can't say enough about how wonderful it is to have that opportunity at the National Main Street conference to connect to one another and to figure out where those resources lie. So that's another benefit I think that may not be as obvious. K: Yeah, Absolutely. M: Yeah. So if you were going to give a piece of advice to a Main Street manager or someone who's working hard in their downtown to revitalize it, what advice would you give them? K: Well, I think from my perspective and the perspective of our team at the National Main Street Center, it's to really make sure that, you know, if you are a Main Street member that you are taking full advantage of your membership. There are so many ways to do so. Through a Main Street America membership, you have access to webinars, resources, a really great discount to the Main Street America Institute program for some professional development. We have so many guides and so many kinds of hard copy resources and they're really interactive at this point. You know, we're always interested in hearing back from folks and updating our resources to make them applicable in various situations. And then just in the past year, we've also launched something called The Point, which is a member network based through our membership system. It really allows for interaction, and people hold really great dialogue there. And there's no, there's no greater resource than your peers. So I think that's what I would say to anybody who is currently a member is to really make sure that you are getting everything that you can out of your membership. And very self-serving, think about the Main Street America Institute. We have some really great courses and we're always developing more. There's great opportunities there. But if you're not a Main Street member, if you're looking at this again from that perspective of, I'm not, you know, part of this kind of accredited network, you know, how can I participate? We have a general membership. You don't have to be part of your statewide program in order to join us as a community. And we also have a new membership format that’s called Friends of Main Street. If you are out there and you're just kind of interested, you want to know more about it. Friends on Main Street is kind of a low-cost entry-level way just to make sure you're receiving our conference discounts and, you know, weekly updates from the National Main Street Center so that you are aware of opportunities of, you know, resources and it's not a huge commitment up front. So we're always happy to talk more about, more about membership. I know my colleagues who specifically work on membership will be like, "Yay! Questions!" But I really think, you know, the conferences is a huge part of this network every year so, the advice is also, attend the conference, make sure that your hand is cramping from all those notes and go home and make some changes. You know, we always talk about the main aspect of this work is really, you know, trying to find other great examples, from podcasts too, to duplicate and obviously have to consider the context of your own community when you're doing so. But this is all about trial and error sometimes with really great examples from other communities. And a lot of that can be found at the conference. And then, you know, there are those best practices that we want to get out there and we do that through all of our member resources, but again, really specifically the conference. M: Well, I think that you just wrapped it up very, very nicely and put a bow on it because I think that's exactly, you know, I think it's such a wonderful conference and I will hope to meet as many people as possible there this year. Last year I had a terrible cold. So I was I was just going through, but I can't wait this year to get there and get to the, I know there's some parties and some networking opportunities that I am looking forward to as well. So, and I'm assuming that you're all there and ready to answer any and all questions at the conference.   K: Oh, yes. So as an attendee at the conference, you can always find information at our booth in the exhibit hall or through the registration table if you ever have questions. We want to make it accessible to you as possible. I will say it's really highly recommended to make sure that you download the mobile app, it's available through our website, in advance of attending, so that you're all set to go once you arrive. We'd love it if you took a look at the schedule in advance and kind of planned out where you thought you might want to be so that you have a better sense of, you know, what sessions you want to attend, and you are not scrambling then. And make sure to read through kind of some of the session descriptions and just plan your experience a little bit. I'll also say, Seattle has great public transit. Don't feel like you have to take a cab from the airport. The train is great. M: That is a good hint because I think it's it's a busy downtown from what I understand, and the conference is located in a great spot, so hopefully people will have lots of ease getting around. I can't wait to see Seattle. Never been there. It's definitely been a place on my bucket list. And so I just can't wait. I'm ready for it to get here, plus it's, you know, very, very chilly here in Minnesota and in Chicago where Kelly is, and so I am just trying to think happy, warmer thoughts and anywhere else in the country than here at the moment. M: Well, thanks so much Kelly. I really appreciate you coming on and talking about National Main Street, the conference, and all of the great resources that are available to folks who care about their downtowns. And I appreciate that you said, you know, it's really all about a big borrowing and stealing from each other. And one of the things I love about Main Street that I have not found in other areas that I've worked in is that no one hoards information or good ideas. It's almost like, we can't wait to share what's worked in our downtown. There just is not a sense of competition at the Main Streets that I've ever encountered. So, you know, instead of trying to recreate the wheel or, you know, try to think of ideas that are outside the box on your own and get started and learn the hard way, you can learn from other people and what they've, been through. And you mentioned The Point, which is part of the National Main Street Center's website. I love that I just kind of, you know, got really dug into it just a few weeks ago, and I thought, “Oh, my gosh! Where has this been for the last couple of years.” It's people who have sample documents and sample marketing pieces and good ideas about contacts and all sorts of things that, in that, I'm sure I'm not doing it justice. But that's a great resource. What I will do is in the show notes make sure to put links to everything we talked about, so links to how to register for the conference, links to your email if people want more information about the institute and what they can sign up for in there, or other information they might need and make sure that people know how to get connected to you. K: Excellent. Well, I look forward to speaking to people and seeing everyone at the conference. I apologize in advance if you see me and I'm in running shoes and scrambling by, but feel free to say hello. M: Awesome! I mean, I did not know there were sixteen hundred people last year. And that's a pretty good testament to a well-run conference because sixteen hundred people could feel like a massive amount of chaos, and it did not feel that way, Kelly. It was amazing. So you did a great job and your team is stellar at this, they are obviously pros. So I can't wait for this year to have even more folks be able to come and share all the great stuff about Main Street. So, thank you so much for being here. Appreciate it. And we'll see you in Seattle. K: Excellent. Thank you, Megan. M: All right. Thanks, Kelly.

In this episode, you will learn about ways to grow economic development and give a destination a sense of place that thrills residents and visitors alike. Kal Wysokowski is president of the Canal Society of New York State, Commissioner for the New York State Canal Corporation, and Commissioner for the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. With all of those volunteer roles, Kal still has time for her day job as Director of Grants Development at the Finger Lakes Community College. Kal was previously the Executive Director of the Fairport IDA and Office of Community and Economic Development, and prior to that, she was the director of the Fairport Village Partnership and Economic Development Program she helped to launch, which is modeled after the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s highly successful Main Street Program. Before moving to the Rochester area, Kal was Vice President for Marketing and Development for Tompkins County Area Development in the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency in Ithaca, New York. She also worked as director of community relations and development for Family and Children’s Service of Ithaca and the Ithaca College Office of Admissions. Kal graduated from Ithaca College’s School of Communication with a Bachelor’s Degree in Corporate Communication and earned a Master’s Degree from Binghamton University. She has been a guest lecturer at the Roy Park School of Communications at Ithaca College and a guest speaker and facilitator for the Excellence, a nonprofit leadership and management series for the Learning Institute for Nonprofit Organizations and PBS. In addition, she has been a presenter at the World Canals Conference, the New York State Canal Conference, the Western New York Landmarks Societies, Preservation Workshop, Design Matters, strengthening city and village centers for the Reshaping Rochester series, served as the chairman for the New York State Canal Conference in addition to numerous business and community lectures on downtown revitalization and business development. A transcript of this episode is available here: http://destinationontheleft.com/kal-wysokowski/

This week on the Anderson Observer Podcast, news from people you trust, an interview with Mr. Downtown Carey Jones on the Christmas tree lighting on the square Friday night and the end of the Main Street Program events for 2015.We also talk to Anderson County Councilman Francis Crowder about council's proclamation to make December "Shop Local Business Month" in Anderson.Plus more details on one local dollar, and more.

Discover the joy of the journey with the AMERICAN ROAD. AMERICAN ROAD with Thomas and Becky Repp, co-hosted by Foster Braun is a talk show that celebrates travel across the two-lane highways of North America. This unique broadcast is an extension of AMERICAN ROAD, an internationally distributed magazine, which celebrates the people and places along America's two-lane jewels. This is part two of our conversation with Ray Scriber of the Louisiana department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism about that state’s Main-to-Main Street Program. During this second segment Ray talks about some of the unique areas to visit in this richly diverse state. We also get the inside scoop on the different ways that Mardi Gras is celebrated across the Pelican State and learn where to find those Gone With The Wind, moss covered southern mansions.

Discover the joy of the journey with the AMERICAN ROAD. AMERICAN ROAD with Thomas and Becky Repp, co-hosted by Foster Braun is a talk show that celebrates travel across the two-lane highways of North America. This unique broadcast is an extension of AMERICAN ROAD, an internationally distributed magazine, which celebrates the people and places along America's two-lane jewels. This is part two of our conversation with Ray Scriber of the Louisiana department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism about that state’s Main-to-Main Street Program. During this second segment Ray talks about some of the unique areas to visit in this richly diverse state. We also get the inside scoop on the different ways that Mardi Gras is celebrated across the Pelican State and learn where to find those Gone With The Wind, moss covered southern mansions.