Some of you may be aware that I recently took a week of vacation. I visited family and friends in New England, based in Alton Bay, New Hampshire, but I also checked out a few downtowns throughout the region. (more…)
The recently-revived Minnesota Main Street Program will be holding a Launch Event this week. The announcement of the program roll-out is this Thursday, May 27th, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., at the Main Street Theatre in Sauk Centre. (more…)
Downtown advocates from southeastern Minnesota gathered in Austin yesterday.
Their purpose was to share ideas for strengthening our downtowns and working together to return the Main Street Program to Minnesota. Eighteen people from eight different communities reviewed the Four Point Approach, offered lessons learned from their own experiences, and brain-stormed additional tactics for familiar challenges.
The Main Street Program was created by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1977. In Minnesota, the program was originally supported by DTED but was phased out in 1994. Minnesota is one of only four states that do not have a state-supported Main Street Program. (more…)
Earlier this year I was invited to join the Minnesota Main Street Steering Committee. With my board’s approval, I have begun to attend the monthly meetings.
As some of you know, the Main Street Program was started by the National Trust for Historic Preservation back in 1977. The program emphasizes Four Points: Organizing, Promoting, Designing, and Restructuring. The NDDC has followed this approach from its founding in 1999. (more…)
It’s the annual National Trust for Historic Preservation Main Street Conference. This year, it’s in not-so-far away Chicago.
The theme for this year’s version is Web 2.0. There are a number of sessions discussing getting more economic leverage from web-based tools. However, I thought I’d start off with a little old school action: Economic Restructuring.
The presenter, Elise Tinsley, outlined three goals for your organization’s “E R Committee”: 1) identify new market opportunities, 2) support existing businesses, and 3) stimulate development investment. Her points struck me as potential guiding principles for any group pursuing economic vitality in Northfield.
Elise said that you attract customers by communicating your community’s image honestly and accurately. Your message must be built on your existing assets, not your envisioned assets. Every community is different and its message should be unique. Perhaps most importantly, your image must be deliverable.
She then talked about gathering market data…and verifying that data. But more on that topic later.
Elise suggested that once you know your community and its assets, as well as your current market and your potential market, you should capture it in a simple and straight-forward Market Position Statement. You position your community within your wider trade area by using this statement to brand, assist and recruit your mix of businesses.
Your statement helps to focus your community’s efforts and helps to draw people to your community. If you’ve accurately captured your assets in your statement, when people visit your community, their experience will match your message.
