Despite the dark economic clouds that hung over our nation at year’s end, we still have much to celebrate on Main Street as we start the new year.
Why, you may ask? From local stories you have shared with us of resilience and innovation to progress we’ve made at the National Trust Main Street Center on new initiatives that can support your work, we remain upbeat.
iChicago: Taking Main Street 2.0 To The Windy City
By Andrea Dono
This month we feature several exciting programs in and around Chicago to showcase successes of our 2009 National Main Streets Conference host. Read about Downtown Elgin’s progressive use of web tools to enhance its outreach, Andersonville’s wildly successful shop local first campaign, St. Charles’ large-scale infill project, and much more.
The Main Street Center surveyed its network in November to find out how local commercial districts have been fairing during the economic downturn. The verdict: revitalized Main Streets are holding strong… for now.
Why tourists Shop: How to Become a powerful Heritage travel Destination
Brochures and tourism agencies “introduce” our Main Streets to the traveler indirectly. But how can we reach them directly? Most importantly, how can we create an “authentic” visitor experience that will translate into more feet on the street and in the stores? Learn a new way of looking at the visitor experience, and explore marketing venues that can really put your town on the heritage travel map.
Panelist: Scott Gerloff, National Trust Heritage Travel Initiative & Barbara Wold, Wold International
The cumulative success of the Main Street Approach™ and Main Street programs on the local level has earned a reputation as one of the most powerful economic development tools in the nation.
