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Greetings!
We wish you a Merry Christmas abounding in love, joy and laughter, and a Happy New Year filled with lasting peace, good health and prosperity. |
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Washington, MO Named Semi-finalist for the Great American Main Street Awards®
Washington, MO, is among 10 Main Street® communities selected by the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Center, as semi finalists for the Great American Main Street Awards®.
Washington has always been a proactive community, with no project being too big. This has been proven by the multiple projects championed not only by Downtown Washington, Inc., but the entire Washington community. Whether it is a new bridge or an all-abilities park, the community is there with a helping hand and an open checkbook.
The organization's first project, in 1989, involved purchasing and renovating Washington's oldest standing structure, first built in 1834. Known as the Log Cabin, the building housed Downtown Washington, Inc.'s offices until 2010, when offices were moved to the Old Main Post Office. A future project will be to update the Log Cabin so it can be used for an "Artist in Residence" program.
Among other successful projects conducted by Downtown Washington was renovating the Outdoor Civic Center. Construction of the façade and street level of the building was completed in 2007. Currently, the second and third floors of the building are being renovated into apartments, with a completion date of October 2011.
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Old Post Office - Washington, MO |
Not only did Downtown Washington, Inc. take on the financial responsibilities of renovating the Old Main Post Office, but the organization also has ownership of a small
business operating within the Old Post Office, the Contract Postal Unit which is responsible for day-to-day postal operations in the downtown district. A hands-on organization, the staff and board spent many nights throughout the renovation stripping paint, cleaning, painting and more to help control costs. Keeping postal operations downtown helps the organization continue serving the estimated 100,000 people who use the downtown postal location each year.
Besides Washington, the semi-finalists are: Bath, Maine; Charleston East End, West Virginia; Culpepper, Virginia; Havre de Grace, Maryland; Jacksonville, Illinois; Portland, Michigan; Russellville, Arkansas; Steamboat Springs, Colorado; Historic Valley Junction/West Des Moines, Iowa. Prior to the National Main Street Conference at Baltimore in 2012, the list of semi-finalists will be narrowed down to five communities. The GAMSA winners will be announced during the conference.
"We are heartened, as ever, by the outstanding results the National Trust's Main Street Four-Point Approach® is generating in communities nationwide," said Doug Loescher, director of the National Trust Main Street Center. "These semi-finalists provide irrefutable evidence that historic preservation-based development can create jobs, attract investment, and support small businesses, even in tough economic times such as these." |
Welcome New Executive Director in Downtown Lee's Summit
Trisha Drape, a downtown Lee's Summit resident for more than 17 years, was named the new DLSMS executive director; she undertook this role on Nov. 11.
 The majority of Drape's career has been spent in the publishing/newspaper industry, primarily with The Kansas City Star and the Lee's Summit Journal, as well as director of communications for the Aircraft Electronics Association, an international trade association headquartered in Lee's Summit, and the editor of its magazine. Most recently, she was director of a nonprofit arts organization.
"Trisha has the work ethic, people skills and ability to lead this organization to the next level," said Gary Fruits, longtime DLSMS board member. "She is well known in the organization and to the business and real estate owners in the greater downtown area. She will do a great job."
For nearly as many years as she has lived in the Lee's Summit community, Drape has been a volunteer for Downtown Lee's Summit Main Street. Earlier this year, she was the recipient of DLSMS's Mary Stacy Ambassador of the Year Award for her work in promoting the downtown area. Drape also was elected to two terms on the DLSMS board of directors. Through her work on the board, she has served on the Economic Restructuring Committee and has attended various revitalization and preservation training opportunities offered through Missouri Main Street Connection.
"A sense of place and community is truly important to me, as it is for most residents of Lee's Summit," Drape said. "Downtown Lee's Summit is the heart of this community and it helps create a sense of place and connectivity. I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing every day than working with the merchants, residents and stakeholders of Downtown Lee's Summit. |
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Affiliate Communities Making Great Progress
Significant progress is being made in three communities that were recently accepted to Missouri Main Street Connection under Affiliate status. Following are samples of goals set and accomplished.
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Blue Springs |
Downtown Blue Springs, MO, is in their first year as an Affiliate Grant participant. They have formed committees, have had several volunteers attend Basic Training classes, have helped save their historic depot, and have produced a video! Blue Springs Mayor Ross included the video on Downtown Alive in his annual "State of the City" address. The video is featured on the City of Blue Springs website http://www.bluespringsgov.com/index.aspx?NID=925 and also posted on the Downtown Alive Blue Springs Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Downtown-Blue-Springs/219321924799002. Affiliate Grant participant Seymour, MO, (population 1,921) hired their first Downtown Director, Kelly Shaner, on Nov. 7, 2011. The Downtown Seymour Association will be implementing the Main Street Four Point Approach® to establish a strong organization, as well as strategizing the best way to promote the downtown district of Seymour to
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Seymour |
encourage the continued strength of businesses downtown and to foster an environment that will be able to support successful growth. Kelly is a former student of MMSC Board President, Steven Hoffman, and earned her BS in Historic Preservation at Southeast Missouri State University. She was also the 2011 summer intern at Missrouri Main Street Connection.
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Peculiar |
Peculiar, MO, has a vision of becoming an Arts & Culture District, and with their Affiliate Grant services they are making great strides in making this a reality. They have rezoned the area around their downtown to accommodate mixed use for artists to have living/working space, have chosen chairs and co-chairs for their four main committees, and are in negotiations with a local foundation to take ownership of a historic stone church in their district. Belton Main Street has started "Mornings on Main" to encourage more interaction among the downtown business owners resulting in a greater awareness of the products and services their neighbors have to offer. They simply pick one place to meet each month from 8 to 10 a.m., and if they
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Belton |
choose, the host will serve coffee and doughnuts. The informal gatherings allow people to come and go as they wish and just talk to one another about business. The meetings have created an even greater sense of cohesiveness in downtown as well as an opportunity for more referrals, ultimately keeping more dollars local. Their Design Committee is working on design guidelines, and their Promotion Committee is planning a "Wine and Dine."
MMSC offers a 60/40 matching grant to eligible communities wishing to revitalize their downtown. A competitive grant application is reviewed and successful applicants receive two years of intensive training on the Main Street Four Point Approach®.
If you are interested in learning more about how to apply for the 60/40 Affiliate Grant, plan to attend a free informational workshop on Feb. 7, 2012, in Jefferson City. Contact the office at 417-334-3014 with questions or for more information. |
MMSC Offers Quarterly Workshops & Annual Conference in 2012
Don't miss these opportunities for your Board members, officers, committee chairs and volunteers to prepare for revitalization in your community!
February 7th Affiliate Grant Workshop-Jefferson City
9 am - 12:00 pm
Your community may be eligible to participate in this cost-share grant for revitalization services, which requires a 40% match from the community and 60% match from MMSC. Part of the eligibility requirement: Your community must send a representative to this workshop. Call us to learn more about it: 417-334-3014.
Feb 15th Missouri Main Street Capital Day-Jefferson City
9 am - 12:30 pm
Capitol Building 3rd floor Senate Alcove: MMSC hosts a visit to all the legislative offices. More details to follow.
Quarterly Workshops-Jefferson City
Feb 16th Basic Training on the 4-Point Approach to Revitalization, Parts I & II
Organization and Design
9:00 am-5:00 pm
Feb 17th Basic Training, Parts III & IV
Economic Restructuring and Promotions
8:00 am- 5:00 pm
April 1st-4th National Main Street Conference-Baltimore, MD
Classroom and In-the-Field Workshops for all Main Street participants, networking opportunities with people from across the nation. See more details at: http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/training/conference/2011-des-moines/
July 24th-26th - "Get Plugged In...Downtown," Missouri's Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference & Evening of Excellence-St. Louis, Millennium Hotel.
Many classroom, in-the-field training and networking opportunities. Basic Training for new Main Street programs also will be scheduled. Visit the MMSC website, "Get Plugged In Downtown" for more details and fees in May 2012: http://www.getpluggedindowntown.org
October 31st-Nov 3rd National Preservation Conference-Spokane, WA
More details to be announced.
Nov 6th-7th Quarterly Workshops & Managers Training-Excelsior Springs
Topic details to be announced later. |
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News Alert
For recently formed Main Street organizations, and anyone who needs a refresher course on Main Street techniques: Mark your calendars for Feb. 16 & 17.
You won't want to miss Basic Training classes on the Four Point Approach® to Revitalization. Sessions will be conducted by Main Street field representatives who are experts in presenting cutting-edge information to help your Main Street begin creating successful revitalization projects.
LOCATION: Jefferson City Truman Office Building & Governor's Office Building
Feb. 16 - 9 am - Noon
Getting everyone working toward the same vision for downtown; best practices for Boards & Committees; volunteer recruiting.
Feb. 16 - 1:30 pm - 4:40 pm
♦ Design - Creating a welcoming atmosphere; putting downtown in top physical shape; historic preservation components and streetscape planning.
Feb. 17 - 8 am - Noon
♦ Economic Restructuring - Positioning downtown for growth and profitability; market analysis and business recruiting; business development and retention; plus a 1-hour segment on how to implement ER tools.
Feb 17 - 1:30 pm - 4:40 pm
♦ Promotions - Making downtown the center of commerce, culture and community life; events planning and coordination with civic partners.
More details and registration information will be available soon on the MMSC website. |
Congratulations to Clinton!
The City of Clinton received a prestigious 2012 Missouri Community Betterment Award as the Community of the Year.
The trophy was presented to city representatives by David Kerr, Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, during the annual Community Betterment Awards (MCB) banquet in October.
MCB Judges and Board members were impressed with the overall number and level of projects that Clinton completed using a variety of community resources, and for completing projects that were prioritized in their own community assessments. |
Liberty Wins "Best Places to Live" Awards
Earlier this year, Liberty won 3rd Place in the Family Circle Magazine awards category Best Towns and Cities for Families.
In August, Liberty was named 7th on the Money Magazine and CNN list of Best Places to Live.
Congratulations to Liberty for recognition by two national magazines for all your creativity, hard work and ongoing efforts to make your community an appealing place to live. |
Old Town Cape Welcomes Expansion of National Marketing Company
Red Letter Communications moved into Old Town Cape 30 years ago, and achieved such success that it has required three expansions and now employs 50 people.
The latest move, still within the downtown, was announced November 2nd by Jim Riley, CEO and founder of Red Letter, who said his company loves the character and charm of the historic district.
"In announcing this investment and commitment to the area-and to the future of our business-we want to invite other business owners in Cape Girardeau and throughout the region to consider downtown as the location for your next office or expansion," Riley said. |
Welcome New Executive Director in Seymour
Kelly Shaner, a native of Rogersville, MO, started Nov. 7 as the new part-time director of the  Downtown Seymour Association.
Kelly attended Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree. She learned more about the Main Street® program from her professor, Dr. Steven Hoffman, President of the Board of Missouri Main Street Connection. From May to August 2011, she had the opportunity to serve an internship with MMSC. "In class we learned more about the big picture," she said, "but the internship helped me to better understand the details of the program. I could see how the pieces fit together."
Shaner will be working with the Chamber to preserve Seymour's rich heritage while developing an economically thriving downtown district through the MMSC program. Her first task will be getting to know the people who own businesses and properties in downtown Seymour.
"It is so important to know the people I am representing and working with," Kelly said. "I want to build relationships with them in order to understand the community's concerns, hopes and daily experiences. I want all avenues of communication to be open. The quicker we are talking, the quicker we can understand the concerns and learn what people want to have happen here."
Shaner recognizes that revitalizing the downtown is a partnership because no one person can do everything. "We know there are great resources here in the businesses passed on through the generations...As we build on what is already here, we can build what will last for even more generations to come, and I consider it a great honor to be here (helping to do that)." |
MMSC State Director Elected
to National Main Street Executive Committee
Gayla Roten, MMSC State Director, was recently elected to the National Main Street Executive Committee.
Representing all Main Street communities around the nation, the Committee provides communication and input to support the partnership between the Main Street Coordinating Programs and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and to further the goals of Main Street®.
The Committee members are selected for their familiarity with traditional commercial district preservation and revitalization challenges and potential. Their interest and leadership resources also may be mobilized to provide continuous support of the Main Street® movement. |
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Get Plugged In...Downtown 2012
The 2012 Missouri Downtown Revitalization Conference will be held in St. Louis, MO, at the Millennium Hotel July 24-26.
Plan to attend this premier event for numerous educational sessions, in-the-field training and networking opportunities.
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