2010 Main Street Leadership Awards Recognize Programs in Washington and Michigan
National Trust for Historic Preservation Honors Leadership Excellence in Commercial Revitalization
Posted May 5, 2010 | Contact pr@nthp.org or 202-588-6141
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 5, 2010) — Yesterday, the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced the winners of the 2010 Main Street Leadership Awards, honoring the Washington State Main Street Coalition and the Michigan Main Street Center @ MSHDA. This award, presented at the Main Street Awards Ceremony during the National Main Streets Conference in Oklahoma City, recognizes creative approaches to commercial district revitalization challenges.
Each year the National Trust Main Street Center recognizes individuals or organizations that have provided strong leadership, locally or nationally, in the following ways:
- Significant, lasting contributions made to commercial district revitalization;
- Inspiring actions that can be duplicated in other communities;
- Ability to serve as a national role model or spokesperson; and
- Long-term contributions to a community's revitalization over time.
The Washington State Main Street Coalition, a team of local revitalization program managers across the state, unified during the week between Christmas and New Year's to act quickly and decisively to save the state Main Street program from a zeroed-out state budget. Local advocates' strategic and swift efforts, including the creation of a network of 850 Facebook supporters, proved successful when the Main Street Bill passed the House in February and the Senate on March 2. Ellensburg Main Street Manager Timothy Bishop accepted the award on behalf of the coalition, which was recognized for its innovative and effective use of social media in its grassroots advocacy plan.
The coalition worked in partnership with National Trust Trustee Mary Thompson and the National Trust Main Street Center to create a grassroots action plan for unifying 90 local programs in 85 communities, and mobilizing Main Street supporters and the general public to contact state legislators to get s bill introduced to save the program. The public support and media attention proved to be a winning combination as the House bill's sponsor said on the floor that he has never received so many emails of support for a single piece of legislation.
"The National Trust Main Street Center is impressed by the quick behind-the-scenes organizing of the local Main Street programs in Washington State and their use of social media networks to instantly deliver calls to action and advocacy updates to hundreds of people," said Doug Loescher, director of the National Trust Main Street Center. "The Washington State Main Street Coalition empowered a broad range of citizens through the legislative process and they were successful. They are outstanding models for their peers throughout the country, who are fighting similar funding crises."
The Michigan State Housing and Development Authority, which houses the Michigan Main Street Center @ MSHDA, was awarded for its leadership in developing a national "Buy Main Street" video campaign that raised awareness for the economic benefits of buying local. Co-branded with the National Trust Main Street Center, the campaign gained momentum through television spots, e-mails and social media tools like Facebook and Twitter. The push educated the public and gave them an outlet to express their support for local businesses that are keeping America's downtowns viable and vibrant. Michigan Main Street Center @ MSHDA worked with marketing firm Pace & Partners to produce an upbeat video for its local programs, and with donated pro bono time from Pace, developed a national version for anyone to use.
"The Michigan Main Street Center @ MSHDA is a true partner and leader of the Main Street movement. Its 'Buy Main Street' video captures the spirit behind what makes America's historic and traditional commercial districts great," said Loescher. "Viewers immediately see that supporting the small businesses of Main Streets is not only important to the local economy but also keeping their own Main Streets vibrant."
The 2010 Main Street Leadership Awards are sponsored by Chesapeake Energy. The Oklahoma City-based company has long been in the forefront of promoting increased use of clean-burning, abundant and domestic natural gas.
Established in 1980, the National Trust Main Street Center® helps communities of all sizes revitalize their older and historic commercial districts. Working in more than 2,200 downtowns and urban neighborhoods over the last 29 years, the Main Street program has leveraged more than $44.9 billion in new public and private investment. Participating communities have created 370,514 net new jobs and 82,909 net new businesses and rehabilitated more than 199,500 buildings, leveraging an average of $25.36 in new investment for every dollar spent on their Main Street district revitalization efforts. To learn about previous GAMSA winners, visit http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/awards/gamsa/.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately-funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places to enrich our future. www.PreservationNation.org
