Who should be involved in the local Main Street program?
Everyone with a stake in the commercial district and its future should be involved. Merchants, property owners, the chamber of commerce, industries, local government, and private citizens all benefit from a healthy local economy and from a historic core that reflects the community’s heritage and personality. A sound partnership is crucial to the Main Street program’s success. In fact, a 1988 study of successful downtown revitalization programs in America, conducted by the National Trust Main Street Center and the Urban Land Institute, found that programs funded primarily by local sources were much more likely to succeed than those that relied heavily on state or federal funds. It is also important for both the public and private sectors to support the program financially, thereby demonstrating their commitment to its goals.
