National Main Streets Conference Albuquerque NM – May 9-12, 2004

2004-05-09 08:00:00
Albuquerque NM

Upcoming National Main Streets Conference – May 9-12, 2004
http://www.mainstreet.org

If helping your community revitalize your commercial business district is
– or could be – part of your economic development strategy – read on!

I would like to refer everyone to the National Main Streets Conference
occurring in Albuquerque NM – May 9-12, 2004. This conference is the
premier opportunity to learn about Main Street downtown revitalization
strategies and successful programs from peer economic development
professionals, elected officials, downtown revitalization specialists and
volunteer leaders.

Included in the session is Main Street 101 –training on each of the four
points of a successful downtown revitalization program: organization,
promotions, economic restructuring and design. Each day of the session is
filled with multiple tracks on a wide variety of topics essential to
downtown revitalization. You can find conference information in
detail on the Main Street website which is http://www.mainstreet.org under the
conference heading.

There is a registration discount if you register before April 1st and a
discount if you are a network member. In our case, we are network members
and are getting a group (minimum 3) together for the full discount which
puts the cost for registration at $260. Membership in the Main Street
network is also available and provides great discounts on materials,
training, a regular news magazine and full access to an amazing resource
website to name just a few benefits.

We are sending a group from Livingston/Park County and we believe it is
timely
because 1) we are preparing to implement a Main Street program and have
already organized our Downtown goals using this approach 2) work is
underway now toward gaining approval of a state-wide technical assistance
program for Montana and 3) the session is in the western 1/2 of the US –
next year it is in Baltimore, Maryland – increasing the cost to travel.
Livingston/Park County is sending a downtown association member, an urban
renewal board member, a city commissioner and me – each funded from
different sources. It is really a good idea to send elected officials and
volunteer leaders because they become such credible voices for the Main
Street effort.

I understand we are all on tight budgets, but if you are a city interested
in doing commercial district revitalization, please consider the financial
stretch, and try to make the investment in this National Main Street
Conference. I have used this program as an economic development strategy
successfully for more than 15 years. Your time and investment will not be
wasted.

If you have questions, please feel free to call me at (406) 222-7227.
Also, please let me know if you are interested in the Main Street program
for your community – whether you are ready to do it right now or not –
because that will help me help MEDA determine the priority for this year’s
legislative efforts. Thanks so much.

Let’s make this the year of MONTANA MAIN STREET!

Cindi Fargo

Executive Director

Alliance Development Corporation

Park County, MT

http://www.pcadc.com

P.S. Wyoming just got their statewide Main Street Program approved this
week! Congratulations to them!

Gloria O’Rourke

MEDA Montana Economic Developers Assoc.

MEDS Montana Economic Development Services

118 E. Seventh St.; Suite 2A

Anaconda, MT 59711

ph: 406.563.5259 fx: 406.563.5476

email: [email protected]

web: http://www.medamembers.org