Main Street Coordinating Programs
A Powerful Support System for Local Commercial District Revitalization
State, city, and regional Main Street coordinating programs provide participating local Main Street organizations with the training, tools, information, and networking they need to be successful. Structured as government programs or nonprofit organizations, coordinating programs are positioned to give local Main Street programs professional advice and guidance in the use of the proven Main Street Four-Point Approach® to start or strengthen their revitalization efforts.
While each Main Street coordinating program seeks to meet the needs of its clients, the primary functions of a Main Street Coordinating program are:
- to "translate" and tailor the Main Street approach according to the specific economic conditions and economic development tools and resources in its geographic region;
- to competitively select local Main Street districts and programs for participation;
- to provide an appropriate scope of technical assistance and, in a few cases, financial assistance to local Main Street organizations;
- to provide networking, advocacy, and encouragement to participating local Main Street programs;
- to serve as a liaison with the National Trust Main Street Center; and
- to identify which local programs annually meet the standards of National Main Street Program Accreditation.
One of the primary activities of a coordinating program is to identify local needs and provide corresponding on-site consulting and training services. These services — often delivered in partnership with the National Trust Main Street Center or other specialists — help establish local programs, plan revitalization strategies, develop detailed implementation plans, and solve specific problems in a Main Street district. These programs also provide advice and guidance directly to local Main Street staff and volunteers about a variety of revitalization topics and issues.
Main Street coordinating programs offer other types of assistance as well. They facilitate networking among Main Street programs so they can share successful strategies and lessons learned through the revitalization process. Many coordinating programs work to raise public awareness of the importance of Main Street revitalization and to promote public policy that supports Main Street. Many work with other public and private programs, such as Small Business Development Centers, to channel additional services and resources to meet Main Street communities' needs. Some coordinating programs — particularly citywide Main Street programs — also provide funding for the operation and/or project budgets of local Main Street programs.
The staffing, services, and funding of Main Street coordinating programs vary. The median coordinating program budget is $331,000, with an average of 3 full-time and 2 part-time staff serving a median of 19 local Main Street programs each. While staff levels vary, each coordinating Main Street program has, at minimum, a full-time professional coordinator, usually someone with hands-on experience as a local Main Street director. Most coordinating programs have additional staff or contractors who provide specific services and specialized assistance to local programs. Many coordinating programs retain an architect for basic design assistance to participating local programs, while others have staff or contractors who offer marketing and business development services.
Since the inception of the Main Street Center in 1980, Main Street coordinating programs have worked in partnership with the National Trust to help communities implement the Main Street Four-Point Approach®. The Main Street Center established the coordinating program model and scope of services early on and has been involved with the development of every coordinating program in the nation. The cumulative work of Main Street coordinating programs has facilitated incremental local improvements that have led to substantial revitalization of downtowns and neighborhood business districts across the United States.
