Save the Main Street Program in Washington State
Take Action!
- Contact your state legislators and ask them to support House Bill 2704 and Senate Bill 6507, which will keep the Main Street program intact by transferring it to the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.
- Become a fan of the Supporting Main Street in Washington State Facebook group.
Background Information
The Main Street program in Washington State would be eliminated by Governor Chris Gregoire's proposed state budget. Currently housed within the Department of Commerce, the program serves communities across the state and has been in existence since 1991. Since then, it has created nearly 12,000 jobs in over 3,700 new and expanded businesses. It has also generated $413 million in private investment by leveraging an average of $96 in private investment for every $1 invested in the program.
In response to the proposed elimination of the program, Representative Dean Takko and Senator Derek Kilmer have introduced bills that would transfer the program and all associated funding from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Without the proposed transfer, the Main Street program will cease to exist in Washington State.
The Washington State Main Street Program teaches communities the Main Street Four Point Approach to revitalization. A program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Trust Main Street Center has developed and promoted a commercial revitalization philosophy that draws on a community's unique heritage and character. Nurturing local resources and initiative, the Washington's program helps community leaders implement locally-developed plans to revitalize and preserve the unique downtowns that contribute to the state's economic vitality, sustainability, and quality of life.
