January 22, 2009
Overview of the Main Street Four-Point Approach
Presenters:- Jim Engle, Director of The Wisconsin Main Street Program
- Catherine Dunlap, Downtown Revitalization Specialist
- J.D Milburn, Small Business Specialist - The Wisconsin Main Street Program
- Joe Lawniczak, Design Specialist
Description: The Wisconsin Main Street Program in the Department of Commerce, established in 1987, is a comprehensive revitalization program designed to promote the historic and economic redevelopment of traditional business districts in Wisconsin. Utilizing many of the resources, practices and the philosophy of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Center, the Wisconsin Main Street Program teaches communities development strategies such as marketing, business recruitment and retention, real estate development, market analysis, and public improvements while advocating the restoration of the historic character of downtown. Participants will learn about a variety of projects from successful Main Street programs.
Presently, Wisconsin Main Street is working in 36 rural communities and urban neighborhoods across the state. The results of their efforts have been impressive. Since 1988, nearly $1 billion has been invested by the private and public sectors in these communities. More than 3,500 businesses have opened creating more than 15,900 new jobs and 4,791 buildings have been rehabilitated.
Foundational Readings:
Information about the Wisconsin Main Street program including copies of their latest newsletters can be found on the following website: http://commerce.wi.gov/cd/CD-bdd-main.html.
Information about the National Main Street Center can be found at: www.mainstreet.org.
Also read "Working to Revive Main Streets" by Barry Adams, Wisconsin State Journal, June 1, 2008.
Facilitator's Discussion Guide: For UW-Extension hosts (requires Net ID) Click here.
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Follow-up Readings and Related Materials:
Discussion Blog: Visit our discussion blog and see what the presenters, audience, and others have to say about this and other topics in the series. Open for Q&A and comments.