Main Street Iowa
Mission Statement
MAIN STREET IOWA
Participating Communities 2010
The mission of Main Street Iowa is to improve
the social and economic well-being of Iowa’s
communities by assisting selected
communities to capitalize on the unique
identity, assets and character of their
downtown area.
Main Street is economic development within
the context of historic preservation.
Ground Rules
Main Street is historic preservation
Main Street is commercial development
Main Street is economic development
Main Street is all inclusive
Main Street concepts transfer
to the entire community.
MAIN STREET APPROACH®
Forces of Value
Political - Organization
Social - Promotion
Physical - Design
Economic -Economic Restructuring
(Business Improvement)
Guiding Principles
Incremental Process
Comprehensive Four Point Approach®
Quality
Public/Private Partnership
Changing Attitudes
Focus on Existing Assets
Self-Help Program
Implementation Oriented
Organization - political value
Volunteer & Leadership Development
Funding & Investor Development
Communication - Internal & External
Backs
Bucks
Ears
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Raising Money for Main Street
Volunteer Training
Communication
Promotion - social value
Image Campaigns
Retail Selling Events
Special Events and Festivals
Marketing Strategy for Downtown
Branding
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Retail Selling
Events
Special Events/Festivals
Design - physical value
Building Improvements - Upper floor housing
Historic Preservation
Public Improvements
Window Displays
Signs
New Construction
Design Education
Financial Incentives for Design Improvements
Design Regulation and Enforcement
Turning long abandoned buildings
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Into beautiful show pieces
Improving Window Displays
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Historic Preservation &
Design Education
Downtown Clean Up Days
Economic Restructuring
(Business Improvement)
economic value
Learning about the Marketplace
Information Gathering - market research
Business Education
Stimulate Adaptive Use of under-utilized
space
Develop financial incentives for business
development & building rehabilitation
Business Retention, Expansion &
Recruitment
Market
Analysis
Business
Technical Assistance
Business
Retention,
Expansion &
Recruitment
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THE BIG QUESTION
DOES
ANYBODY
SEE THE
NEED?
THE BIG QUESTION
If so…..
then…
WHO WILL IT
BE?
The
Cause must be someone’s
5th life priority!
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Family
Faith
Work
School
Main Street
IS THIS YOU???
SOMEBODY
MUST TAKE THE
LEAD!!
Nuts & Bolts
• Town Meeting #1 – invite everyone!
– Discuss downtown
– Discuss Main Street Approach®
– Discuss other options
– Decide to move forward
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Nuts & Bolts
Form a Main Street Steering Committee
to:
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Learn as much as possible about how
Main Street works!
Visit 3 or 4 active Main Street®
Communities
Bring information back home
6 to 8 people
ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS
1.
How does downtown revitalization fit into the
community’s overall development plan?
2.
Why is downtown important to the community?
3.
Who does/should support revitalization efforts &
why?
How does it fit with other development groups?
How do you find the necessary resources for one
more cause (people & money)?
How will it benefit our businesses?
Why should we do Main Street?
4.
5.
6.
7.
Main Street Steering Committee
Public Sector-city, county
Historical Societies
Residents
Media
Schools/Colleges
Economic Development
Private Sector
Groups
Churches
Foundations, etc.
Chamber of Commerce
Businesses – retail,
Civic groups
professional, industry
Property Owners
Financial Institutions
Consumers/Citizens
Insurance Policy: An inclusive group is the best way to build
support for your efforts from the beginning!
EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY
Nuts & Bolts
Nuts & Bolts
• Town Meeting # 2 – invite everyone
– Discuss findings from community visits
– Discuss realities of taking on a Main Street® program
– Reach consensus – yes or no
• Yes – continue in the process
• No- everyone goes home and downtown continues to decline
SOONER OR LATER, EVERYONE
ENDS UP WITH THE
DOWNTOWN THEY DESERVE!
Apply for Program!
Attend Application Workshop in Summer/Fall, 2011
Submit Application by Deadline – Late Fall 2011
Make Presentation to Advisory Council – Winter 2012
Announce new Main Street Towns – Winter 2012 or
Spring 2012
Know Thyself!!!!
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IT’S ALL ABOUT ORGANIZATION!
The Ideal Main Street Organization
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IT’S ALL ABOUT ORGANIZATION!
Other Options:
• Downtown Merchants Association
• Chamber of Commerce
• Economic Development Corporation
• City program
strong, independent, corporation
sole purpose is downtown
501c3 tax status
own board of directors, checkbook
Challenges – only promotion oriented; broader
focuses; philosophical & programmatic
differences; membership organizations; tax
status; historic preservation ethic; general
development philosophies; public sector
mandated program
• Pitfall – difficult to fund if program has not
proven itself within several years!!!
Funding for Main Street
Funding Needs:
Operational: Office, staffing, training,
volunteer expenses, etc.
Programmatic: Committee programming
expenditures
Budget Breakdown
Funding for Main Street
• 3 Year Pledge Drive - primary revenue
Sources of Funds for Main Street
source
• Fund Raising Projects - Events that
City
Downtown business & building owners
Industries & financial institutions
Utilities/grants/private citizens
County/other (festivals/merchandise)
20 - 30%
40 – 50%
15 - 20%
10 - 20%
10 - 15%
have a beginning and an end. The
effectiveness is measured by the investment
of time in relation to the amount of return ($).
• Merchandise - Products purchased for
resale. The effectiveness is relative to the
quick turn of inventory.
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Annual Budget Guidelines
Funding for Main Street
Who to ask for money?
Minimum Budget Suggestions
under 5,000
$30K to $40K
5,000 to 50,000
$55K to $75K
over 50,000
$100K to $125K
Iowa Average Budgets - 2010
under 5,000
$69K
5,000 to 24,000
$102K
24,000 to 50,000
$137K
over 50,000
$324K
Yourself
Downtown Employees
Family
Civic Groups
Friends
Professionals
Neighbors
Farmers
Co-Workers
People with Wealth
Alumni
People with Access to Wealth
Downtown Property Owners
Downtown Business Owners
People who Love Historic Preservation
Average Annual City Investment
General Selection Criteria
Iowa Communities – 2010
• Strong commitment from city government and private
sector - minimum of 3 years.
• Adequate local budget and evidence of committed
funding - minimum of 3 years.
• Commitment to hire a paid director-minimum of 3
years.
• Existence of a private, non-profit corporation.
• Community’s true need for downtown revitalization.
• Possibility for demonstrable change.
Communities under 5,000
Communities 5,000-24,000
Communities 24,000-50,000
Communities over 50,000
Neighborhood programs
$10,709
$19,200
$17,800
$49,194
$23,333
IT’S ALL ABOUT ORGANIZATION!
General Selection Criteria
Ingredients of a Strong Revitalization Organization
• Past history of downtown revitalization efforts.
• Familiarity with concepts and principles of the Main
Street Approach®.
• Evidence of local preservation activity.
• Existence of architecturally or historically
significant buildings downtown.
• Existence of a locally or nationally designated
historic district within the project area.
• Current community demographics.
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Widespread community support
Broad based representation on board and committees
Clear mission with defined goals and objectives
Committed, dependable funding
Working volunteers on board and committees
Program management by a paid professional
Action plans based on the Main Street Four Point Approach®
Commitment to work incrementally…to succeed, over time
Strong public/private partnership
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IT’S ALL ABOUT ORGANIZATION
“Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world; indeed it is the
only thing that ever has!”
Margaret Mead
Thom Guzman
Iowa Downtown Resource Center
Iowa Department of Economic Development
200 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
515/725-3058
[email protected]
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