From Forgotten to Flourishing: Reimagine Your Main Street
Does your beloved Main Street feel forgotten, with vacant storefronts and dwindling foot traffic? You can be a driving force in its revival! Learn about successful strategies like pop-up shops, incubator programs, and mixed-use developments that attract diverse businesses and entrepreneurs. Explore initiatives that enhance pedestrian safety, create inviting public spaces, and foster a sense of community. A vibrant Main Street is the backbone of a thriving town, and with your dedication and collaboration with fellow community members, you can witness its transformation.
Aledo, Illinois: A Community Revived by Music and HistoryCategory: Main Street, Aledo
Aledo, Illinois, exemplifies the power of community spirit and perseverance in downtown revitalization. Their story starts strong, faces setbacks, and ultimately finds renewed success. Aledo was an early adopter of Tax Increment Financing (T.I.F.) districts, a tool designed to reinvest property tax revenue into a defined area. However, their initial...
Bellefontaine's Main Street Magic: A Recipe for Downtown RenewalCategory: Main Street, Bellefontaine, Placemaking
Bellefontaine, Ohio, wasn't always the vibrant town it is today. Just a few years ago, the downtown area was filled with shuttered storefronts, a shadow of its former self. But a remarkable transformation has taken place, thanks to a unique partnership between the city and a development company called Small...
Casey Charms: Quirky Attractions Spark Main Street RevivalCategory: Main Street, Casey, Attract Tourists
Nestled off the main roads in central Illinois, Casey, like many small towns, faced challenges after the interstate bypassed its heart. Declining industry and a struggling downtown threatened the community's vibrancy. However, a local entrepreneur named Jim Bolin had a unique idea to revitalize Casey's Main Street.Inspired by a desire...
Chisago Lakes Area and Lindstrom, Minnesota: A Story of Community Collaboration, Resilience, and RevivalCategory: Attract Tourists, Chisago Lakes, Main Street, Lindstrom
The Chisago Lakes area in Minnesota encompasses five small towns: Lindstrom, Chisago City, Shafer, Center City, and Taylor’s Falls. By working together, they created a remarkable story of community collaboration and economic revival. Since the early 2000s, all of these communities have faced significant challenges—particularly the 2008 recession, the collapse...
Elkader, Iowa: Main Street Vibrancy and Unique Outdoor Recreation - Kayak CourseCategory: Elkader, Main Street, Enjoy the Outdoors
Elkader, Iowa, exemplifies how a "Main Street Community" can embrace its identity and foster tourism while preserving its small-town charm. Nestled along the picturesque Turkey River, Elkader has leveraged its natural assets and historical appeal to draw visitors year-round. The introduction of a kayak course on the river has not...
Glouster, Ohio: From Paint to Progress, Glouster's Story of RenewalCategory: Attract Tourists, Glouster, Main Street
Glouster, Ohio, is a testament to the power of one person's vision. Jim Cotter's "Paint the Town" initiative, featured on CBS over a decade ago, introduced viewers to a man on a mission to revitalize his community by painting everything in sight. With a population of 2,000, Glouster had seen...
Great Bend, Kansas: Innovative Approach to Welcome New ResidentsCategory: Main Street, Great Bend, Build Homes, Bring Families
Great Bend, Kansas, is tackling revitalization with a two-pronged attack, and it's working! Their innovative programs are breathing new life into their hometown.Program 1: Welcoming Back Hometown TalentThe Come Home Reverse Scholarship program takes a unique approach. Administered by the Golden Belt Community Foundation, it offers scholarships to attract former...
Havana, Illinois: Revitalization Connects the Downtown, Waterways, History, Culture & Nature in a Powerful WayCategory: Main Street, Havana
Click here for more of Havana's story!Havana, Illinois, a town rich in history and innovation, owes much of its legacy to Stephen Forbes, a pioneering ecologist who established the University of Illinois-affiliated field research station there in 1894. This station, which has since evolved into the Forbes Biological Station and...
Laurel, MS: RAISE Grant and Industrial Site Fuel City’s GrowthCategory: Laurel, Grow Entrepreneurs, Main Street
Laurel, Mississippi, is set to undergo a transformative period of growth and renewal, thanks to a recent award of $24.8 million through the RAISE (Rebuild America Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) grant program. This significant investment is a game changer for the community, aimed at making vital improvements to the...
Marion, Illinois: A Focus on Housing and the DowntownCategory: Marion, Main Street, Build Homes
Once bustling with vibrant downtown businesses, Marion, Illinois, like many small towns, faced a decline in their downtown when a nearby mall was built in the 1980s on the outskirts of town near the interstate. This shift led to the decay of the historic downtown area. Recognizing this challenge,...
Rochelle, Illinois: Infrastructure Puts City on Path to Economic GrowthCategory: Rochelle, Main Street, Success Stories, Grow Entrepreneurs, Recruit Businesses
Rochelle, Illinois, nicknamed the "Hub City" for its transportation infrastructure, demonstrates how strategic economic development can pave the way for future prosperity. The Greater Rochelle Economic Development Corporation (GREDCO), formed by dedicated citizens in the late 1970s, spearheaded Rochelle's transformation. Starting small, they strategically invested in and revitalized properties, using...
Three Oaks, Michigan: Beyond Crisis - How Three Oaks Became a Tourist GemCategory: Attract Tourists, Three Oaks, Main Street, Grow Entrepreneurs
Three Oaks, Michigan, stands as a testament to the power of community spirit and a well-defined vision. Once on the brink of financial collapse, this charming village has undergone a remarkable transformation, becoming a thriving tourist destination. The story begins in 2008, when lifelong resident Dave Grosse discovered that the...
Woodbine, Iowa: Path to RevitalizationCategory: Main Street, Woodbine, Placemaking
In 2008, Woodbine, Iowa, faced the challenge of a decline in businesses and a growing number of empty storefronts in its historic downtown. But instead of resignation, a remarkable thing happened: a diverse group of community leaders rallied together. From small business owners and educators to farmers and local officials,...
