United States Department of Agriculture Rural Information Center

Downtown Revitalization

Contents

Image: Small Town Main Street

Introduction

Many rural communities are engaged in revitalization efforts to renew downtown areas and restore them to their former prominence as a center of community activity. Successful downtown projects may not only expand business, employment, and shopping opportunities but also increase and strengthen the social activity and quality of life in the community. Community support and planning are key elements in a successful revitalization effort. Surveying the community’s resources, organizing citizens’ participation, and identifying community goals are essential in planning such a project. This guide links to full-text handbooks, planning tools, case studies, funding resources, organizations, revitalization strategies, and more to assist a community considering a downtown revitalization project. The Rural Information Center also has additional resources to assist in a revitalization effort located on the Economic and Rural Development Resources page, http://ric.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=5&tax_level=2&tax_subject=211&level3_id=0&level4_id=0&level5_id=0&topic_id=1154&&placement_default=0, Historic Preservation Resources page, http://ric.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=5&tax_level=2&tax_subject=211&level3_id=0&level4_id=0&level5_id=0&topic_id=1158&&placement_default=0 and a publication, Historic Preservation Resources http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/ricpubs/preserve.html.

This guide was prepared by Patricia LaCaille John, June 2005.
This resource guide was partially revised and updated July, 2008.
Rural Information Center Publication Series; no. 71 2005. Beltsville, MD.

Community Planning Resources

  1. Downtown and Business District Market Analysis: Using Market Data and Geographic Information Systems to Identify Economic Opportunities in Small Cities. Madison: University of Wisconsin-Extension, Center for Community Economic Development, 2004. http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cced/dma/

  2. Managing Downtown Revitalization. Ottawa: Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, 2002. 73 p. http://www.reddi.mah.gov.on.ca/userfiles/HTML/nts_6_20254_1.html

  3. A Manual for Small Downtowns. Martin Shields, Tracey Farrigan. University Park: The Pennsylvania State University, 2001. 110 p. http://retailmarkets.aers.psu.edu/images/manual.pdf

  4. Organizing a Successful Downtown Revitalization Program Using the Main Street Approach. Olympia, WA: Office of Trade & Economic Development, n.d. 64 p. http://cted.wa.gov/_cted/documents/ID_160_Publications.pdf

  5. Smart Growth at the Frontier: Strategies and Resources for Rural Communities. Barbara Wells. Washington, DC: Northeast, n.d., 80 p. http://www.nemw.org/RuralSmartGrowth.pdf

Downtown Revitalization

  1. 10 Reasons Why Maine's Homegrown Economy Matters and 50 Proven Ways to Revive It. Stacy Mitchell. Belfast, ME: Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility, 2004. 56 p. http://www.newrules.org/retail/mainelocaleconomy.pdf

  2. An Annotated Webliography of Downtown Revitalization Resources. Compiled by Nancy Lynn Kleban. Manoa: University of Hawaii, 1999. 13 p. http://www2.hawaii.edu/~kleban/Revitalization.htm/

  3. City Beautiful: Establishing Community Redevelopment Areas in Florida. Melva Macfie, Karen Zagrodny. Gainesville: Conservation Clinic, College of Law, University of Florida, 1999. 24 p. http://www.law.ufl.edu/conservation/pdf/city_beautiful.pdf

  4. Downtown/Business District Economic Revitalization. Madison: University of Wisconsin-Extension, Center for Community Economic Development. http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cced/BDS.html

  5. "Downtown Revitalization: Cities Search for Solutions." EconSouth, No. 3 (1999): 5 p. http://www.frbatlanta.org/invoke.cfm?objectid=87B687D8-6666-11D5-93390020352A7A95&method=display

  6. A Local Official's Guide to Developing Better Community Post Offices. Paul Bruhn, Emily Wadhams, Karen Horn. Burlington, VT: The Preservation Trust of Vermont, 2001. 38 p. http://www.ptvermont.org/publications/pobook/popreface.htm

  7. "Main Street Partnering: A Key to Successful Downtown Revitalization." Kent Robertson. Let's Talk Business. Issue 78, (2003): 2 p. http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cced/lets/0203ltb.html

  8. "Organizing for Central Business District Revitalization." Gregory A. Davis. Journal of Extension. 37, No. 2 (1999): 4 p. http://www.joe.org/joe/1999april/iw2.html

  9. Reclamation and Economic Regeneration of Brownfields. Peter B. Meyer, H. Wade VanLandingham. Review of Economic Development, Literature and Practice: No. 1. Washington, DC: U.S. Economic Development Administration, 2000. 44 p. http://www.eda.gov/ImageCache/EDAPublic/documents/pdfdocs/meyer_2epdf/v1/meyer.pdf

  10. Rehabilitating Historic Storefronts. H. Ward Jandl. Preservation Briefs 11. Washington, DC: Technical Preservation Services, National Park Service, 1982. http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/briefs/brief11.htm

  11. Revitalizing Maine's Downtowns. Augusta: Maine Downtown Center and the Maine State Planning Office, 2004. 33 p. http://www.mdf.org/downtown/pdf/execorder.pdf

  12. "Thinking Small" For a Revitalized Downtown Tallahassee: Some Thoughts About A Cultural Attractions Strategy. Bob Rackleff. Tallahassee, FL: Leon County, 1999. 5 p. http://www.co.leon.fl.us/BCC/rackleff/essay.asp

  13. Turning Around Downtown: Twelve Steps to Revitalization. Christopher B. Leinberger. Washington, DC: The Brookings Institution, 2005. 23 p. http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20050307_12steps.htm

  14. Welcome Back Downtown: A Guide to Revitalizing Pennsylvania's Small Downtowns. Martin Shields, Tracey Farrigan. Harriburg: The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, n.d. 28 p. http://www.ruralpa.org/downtown.pdf

Business Improvement Districts

  1. Business Improvement Districts and Innovative Service Delivery. Jerry Mitchell. Arlington, VA: PricewaterhouseCoopers Endowment for the Business of Government, 1999. 32 p. http://www.businessofgovernment.org/pdfs/Mitchell.pdf

  2. Let's Talk Business: Ideas for Expanding Retail and Services in Your Community. Madison, WI: Center for Community Economic Development, University of Wisconsin-Extension, No. 1, September, 1996-. http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cced/publicat/letstalk.html

  3. Promoting Retail to Revitalize Downtowns: An Examination of the Business Improvement District Idea. Devika Gopal. Boston: Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2003. 153 p.

Case Studies, Best Practices, Model Programs

  1. Brownfields Showcase Community Locations. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000. 10 p. http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/slocat.htm

  2. Downtown Rebound. Rebecca R. Sohmer, Robert E. Lang. Washington, DC: Fannie Mae Foundation, 2001. 10 p. http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2001/05_downtown_sohmer.aspx

  3. Downtown Revitalization: "From Concept to Reality." Langley, BC: Development Services, n.d.14 p. http://www.cityoflangley.ca/_pdf/downtown_revitalization.pdf

  4. Downtown Revitalization: Pipestone. Washington, DC: National Park Service. 3 p. http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/pipestone/revitalization.htm

  5. Downtown Revitalization in Urban Neighborhoods and Small Cities. Barbara Wells. Washington, DC: Northeast-Midwest Institute, n.d., 18 p. http://www.nemw.org/DowntownRevital.pdf

  6. Revitalizing Community: Four New York State Community Development Organizations. A Comparative Case Study. Jonathan Shadmon. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University, Department of City and Regional Planning, Community and Rural Development Institute, 2003. 53 p. http://www.cdtoolbox.net/community_planning/000163.html

Funding Sources

The following resources provide a general look at funding sources for economic development efforts. Consult grant writing resources, http://ric.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=5&tax_level=2&tax_subject=319&topic_id=1566 and A Guide to Funding Resources http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/ricpubs/fundguide.html for assistance in preparing successful proposals and in obtaining funding applications and information for obtaining a DUNS number that is required of all organizations/entities applying for a federal grant or cooperative agreement.

Federal Funding Databases

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA). CFDA is an Internet database containing information about all federal domestic programs including federal grants, loans, insurance, and training programs; information is available on eligibility, application procedures, selection criteria, and deadlines. http://12.46.245.173/cfda/cfda.html

The Federal Funding Sources for Rural Areas Database for Rural Areas Database is an Internet database containing information about rural federal domestic programs including federal grants, loans, insurance, and training programs; information is available on eligibility, application procedures, selection criteria, and deadlines. http://ric.nal.usda.gov/nal_web/ric/ffd.php

Federal Programs

The following federal programs and private funding sources represent a sample of the resources available. For additional sources consult A guide to Funding Resources: http://nal.usda.gov/ric/ricpubs/fundguide.html. This online guide contains links to numerous funding sources including federal, state, and private funding databases, state foundation guides, and grant writing resources and information.

Appalachian Regional Commission

U.S. Department of Agriculture

  • Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities, http://www.ezec.gov. Also known as EZ/ECs, these zones are setup to assist rural underserved, high poverty areas in developing needed programs and services.

  • Forest Service - Cooperative Forestry, http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/

    • Economic Action Programs assist rural communities through three programs. The Rural Community Assistance programs help rural communities build skills, networks, and strategies to address social, environmental, and economic changes. The Forest Products Conservation and Recycling program helps communities and businesses find new and expanded business opportunities based on forest resources. The Market Development and Expansion program helps develop new markets for natural resource based goods and services. http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/programs/eap/index.shtml

U.S. Department of Commerce

  • Economic Development Administration, http://www.eda.gov/, provides assistance to rural communities through a variety of programs including the Public Works and Economic Development Facilities Program.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Department of Transportation

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

  • Brownfields Economic Development Initiative (BEDI) empowers States, communities, and other stakeholders in economic development to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. With certain legal exclusions and additions, the term `brownfield site' means real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/mmatters.htm

Additional Funding Resources


Journals

Appalachia
Appalachian Regional Commission
1666 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20235
202-673-7968
Fax: 202-673-7930
Web: http://www.arc.gov/index.do?nodeId=575

Downtown Idea Exchange
Downtown Research & Development Center
28 West 25th Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10010
212-228-0246
Email: info@DowntownDevelopment.com

Downtown News Briefs
International Downtown Association
1250 H. Street, NW 10th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
202-393-6801
Fax: 202-393-6869

Downtown Promotion Reporter
Downtown Research & Development Center
28 West 25th Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10010
212-228-0246
Email: info@DowntownDevelopment.com

Journal of Housing& Community Development
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials
630 Eye St., NW
Washington, DC 20001
877-866-2476
Email: nahro@nahro.org

Journal of the Community Development Society
17 South High St., Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43215
614-221-1900 ext. 217
Email: CDS@assnoffices.com

Main Street News
National Main Street Center
1785 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20036
202-588-6219
Fax: 202-588-6050

Planning
American Planning Association
122 South Michigan Ave.
Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60603
312-431-9100
Fax: 312-431-9985
Email: CustomerService@planning.org

Preservation
National Trust for Historic Preservation
1785 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20036
1-800-944-6847
202-588-6000
Fax: 202-588-6038

Public Management (PM)
International City/County Management Association
777 North Capitol St., NE
Suite 500
Washington, DC 20002
202-962-3675
Email: subscriptions@icma.org

Public Works
Hanley Wood, LLC
426 South Westgate St.
Addison, IL 60101
630-543-0870
Email: pweditor@hanleywood.com

Rural Development News
North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
Iowa State University
107 Curtiss Hall
Ames, IA 50011-1050
515-294-8321
Fax: 515-294-3180
Web: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/centers/rdev/rdn.html

Small Town
Small Towns Institute
Box 517
Ellensburg, WA 98926
509-925-1830

Organizations

American Planning Association
122 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60603
312-431-9100
Fax: 312-431-9100
Email: CustomerService@planning.org
Web: http://www.planning.org/

A non-profit, public interest group that focuses on research, policy, education and information dissemination for practicing planners, officials, and citizens involved with urban and rural planning issues. Also has the Small Towns and Rural Planning Division with specific small town focus.

Downtown Research & Development Center
28 West 25th Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10010
212-228-0246
1-800-232-4317
Fax: 212-228-0376
Email: info@DowntownDevelopment.com
Web: http://www.DowntownDevelopment.com

Analyzes and reports on downtown problems and solutions. Conducts research, publishes books, reports and studies, holds seminars and workshops and acts as the international clearinghouse on downtown revitalization.

International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
777 North Capital Street, NE, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20002
202-289-4262
Web: http://www.icma.org/

The "professional and educational organization representing appointed managers and administrators in local governments." Services include: annual conference; publications; research; and special focused initiatives that include brownfields, sustainable communities, Intelligent transportation systems, performance measurement, military base reuse smart growth and best practices symposium are just some of the many programs.

International Downtown Association
1250 H Street, NW 10th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
202-393-6801
Email: question@ida-downtown.org
Web: http://www.ida-downtown.org/

Dedicated to the revitalization of downtown areas and their adjacent neighborhoods. Focuses its programs on effective management of downtowns, including retailing, security, maintenance, physical design, business development, transportation, culture and entertainment.

National Association of Towns and Townships (NATaT)
444 North Capitol St., NW
Suite 397
Washington, DC 20001-1202
202-624-3550
Email: natat@sso.org
Web: http://www.natat.org

Provides technical assistance, educational services, and public policy support to local government officials of small communities across the country. Conducts research and develops public policy recommendations to help improve the quality of life in small communities.

National Center for Small Communities
444 N. Capitol St., NW
Washington, DC 20001-1202
202-624-3550
Email: ncsc@sso.org
Web: http://www.natat.org

Provides small-town decisionmakers with the tools to govern effectively and the skills to expand local economies, protect natural resources and preserve community character. Offers access to training materials, community problem-solving strategies, public policy research and other resources.

National Main Street Center
1785 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20036
202-588-6219
Email: mainstreet@nthp.org
Web: http://www.mainstreet.org

Assists states, communities and citizens in the revitalization of business districts within a preservation context. Provides information and consultation on downtown revitalization, through technical assistance, the National Main Street Network, conferences, products and Main Street Certification Institute.

Small Towns Institute
Third Ave. and Poplar St.
P.O. Box 517
Ellensburg, WA 98926
509-925-1830

Collects, assembles and disseminates information of value to small town planning, revitalization and environmental programs

Urban Land Institute
1025 Thomas Jefferson St., NW
Suite 500 West
Washington, DC 20007
1-800-321-5011
202-624-7000
Email: reliance@uli.org
Web: http://www.uli.org/

Encourages effective urban planning and development through research and education. Nineteen councils conduct studies of industrial potentials, downtown problems and new area development.

Regional Rural Development Centers

The four regional centers, http://www.ncrcrd.iastate.edu/about/rrdc.html coordinate rural development research and extension education through out the United States. They focus on social and economic problems common to rural areas of the region through a cooperative multi disciplinary effort, including financing, public services, fiscal analyses and leadership roles. They studies economic development, improved community facilities and services, capacity building and natural resources.

North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
Iowa State University
107 Curtiss Hall
Ames, IA 50011-1050
515-294-8321
Fax: 515-294-3180
Web: http://www.ncrcrd.iastate.edu

Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development
The Pennsylvania State University
7 Armsby Building
University Park, PA 16802-5602
814-863-4656
Fax: 814-863-0586
Web: http://www.cas.nercrd.psu.edu

Southern Rural Development Center
Mississippi State University
Box 9656
410 Bost Extension Building
Mississippi State, MS 39762
662-325-3207
Fax: 662-325-8915
Web: http://srdc.msstate.edu/

Western Rural Development Center
Utah State University
8335 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-8335
435-797-9732
Email: wrdc@usu.edu
Web: http://wrdc.usu.edu/

USDA, Rural Information Center
National Agricultural Library
10301 Baltimore Ave., Room 132
Beltsville, MD 20705-2351
ric@ars.usda.gov
1-800-633-7701