Register Early for the 2009 Montana Main Street Conference Hosted by the Montana Department of Commerce

Early, online registration for the second annual Montana Department of Commerce, Montana Main Street Conference closes September 16th. Participants are encouraged to register early for the conference which is scheduled to take place September 28-29 in Helena, at the Great Northern Hotel. Early registration costs $150, and includes some meals. From September 17-23, late registration will cost $175.

Developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1980, Main Street is a historic preservation-based economic development program that has been used in thousands of rural and urban communities nationwide to spark life into traditional commercial districts. In 2005, the Montana Legislature authorized funding to join the national program.

“The Montana Main Street Conference is a great opportunity for Montanans involved in downtown revitalization and economic development to network and learn about new ideas and the resources available to them,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer.

This year’s theme is downtown revitalization and discussion topics will include:

* Small-town events: Developing the ability to identify, secure, and execute successful events is a key component in achieving your Main Street mission. Participants will learn how to better leverage resources, form strategic partnerships, secure funding, and engage communities.

* Business coaching: Strengthening the competitiveness of your existing businesses should be a high priority, especially with the current economic climate. This session will walk participants through the steps necessary for effective coaching as well as introduce them to the technique of personal business trainers.

* Fundraising: This session will address what’s changing in the fundraising environment and what’s not; what motivates donors; how to build a diversified funding program; and why some fundraising programs work and others don’t.

* Business signage and window displays: Every business has a free billboard that customers see 24 hours a day. This “billboard” includes the storefront, signage, and window displays. This session presents the key design and merchandising principles behind innovative, high-impact, and consumer-driven storefronts.

* Becoming Main Street 2.0 – Take Your Main Street onto the Superhighway: There is a virtual overload of new Web 2.0 terms and tools zooming around the business world today. To be competitive, you must be fluent in this new language and be comfortable implementing these tools. Learn how they can complement and expand your efforts for recruiting volunteers, raising funds, and promoting events.

* Heritage tourism and economic development: Using the charm and appeal of historic communities to spark local and regional development is one of the strongest approaches to downtown improvement. This session will show you how to make the most of your community’s historic venues, cultural museums, traditional artists, and heritage businesses.

The underlying premise of the Montana Main Street program is to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation. The program encourages communities to use their unique assets – distinctive architecture, pedestrian-friendly atmosphere, local ownership, and personal service – to rebuild their downtowns.

“Healthy, vibrant downtowns can help recruit new residents, businesses, and tourists, and help retain the people who already live and work there,” said Anthony Preite, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “Community revitalization is a key component in creating economic prosperity in Montana’s cities and towns. The Montana Main Street Program is a great resource for guidance on how to get there.”

Decades ago, downtown commercial districts served as the primary provider of goods and services to their communities. People shopped, ate, worked, and recreated downtown. But, with the advent of malls, big box stores, Internet commerce, and the like, downtowns declined.

“Although traditional commercial districts will never again be able to provide the same range of goods and services they offered years ago, downtowns can adapt to new trends and find new niches,” said Julie Burk, coordinator for the Montana Main Street Program. “This conference will bring people together who are interested in strengthening their downtowns. There will be plenty of time to network, and all the discussion topics are pertinent to revitalization efforts, no matter what the size of the community.”

For more information and to register, click on http://www.mtmainstreet.mt.gov/conference.asp or call (406) 841-2756.

The conference is sponsored by the Montana Department of Commerce, Montana Historical Society, Northwestern Energy, First Interstate Bank, Junkermier, Clark, Campanella, Stevens, P.C., Montana Economic Developers Association, CTA Architects Engineers, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, and Mainstreet Uptown Butte.

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Marissa P. Kozel

Communications Director, Director’s Office

Montana Department of Commerce

406-841-2772 (o)

406-465-7208 (c)

[email protected]