News from Missouri Main Street Connection

Enthusiasm for downtown revitalization and preservation isn't hard to find in California, Missouri, a 2012 Affiliate Grant Community. Pam and Rich Green, community volunteers and owners of the Eitzen Mansion, are opening up their home and the mansion grounds to host a Sock Hop and Roll on June 7, 2013.

Eitzen Mansion Built in 1898 by Charles A. Eitzen, this home has 19 rooms and nine fireplaces. The home still has the original slate roof. A carriage house and stable with a room for the coachman is still standing on the property, which takes up an entire city block.

This will be the first fundraising event to help the California Historic District and will benefit the newly organized revitalization effort. CLICK HERE for more information.

Tools of the Trade

Attendees at the 2013 National Main Streets Conference in April had the opportunity to learn about new "tools of the trade" - Check In Easy and Square.

Check In Easy is an event management tool designed to speed up the check-in process and eliminate paper guest lists. It was created by event planners who set out to change the industry and eliminate the "painful, sloppy, and slow" check-in process.

Check In Easy is an app that is compatible with iPad 2, iPhone, and Android. It is free to download and comes with 50 free check-ins to test and try out the app. Additional packages are available for purchase for 400 guests to check in up to 20,000 guests.

More information can be found at www.checkineasy.com.

Square is a mobile payment business used by merchants and consumers. The Square Reader/Register for merchants is compatible with most Apple iOS devices and with a few Google Android devices.

Square offers two simple pricing plans: Standard ("pay when used") and Monthly. There are no activation, early termination, interchange or chargeback fees for either plan. Funds from Square transactions are generally available the next business day.

Detailed pricing and additional information can be found at www.squareup.com.

Don't Ever Think It Cannot Happen - Alive After Five

Main Street Chillicothe has introduced the "Alive After Five." Nearly 20 downtown businesses will remain open until 7 pm every Thursday. The initiative has been heavily promoted through storefront signs and posters, bag stuffers, radio and print publications, print ads and social media.

The kickoff for "Alive After Five" will be Thursday, May 30th. Participating merchants include clothing and jewelry stores, a salon, a pharmacy, a steakhouse, and an antique mall to name a few.

2013 Conference & Workshop Calendar

July 23-25

"Get Plugged In...Downtown," Missouri's Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference & Evening of Excellence

Hotel Phillips, Kansas City, MO

This year's theme is "Creative Communities, Hip Neighborhoods, Cool Buildings." The conference offers many classroom sessions, in-the-field training opportunities, and networking; Basic Training for new Main Street Programs plus many advanced sessions. CLICK HERE to visit the conference website for more details and registration information.

September 18-20

Missouri Preservation Conference

Boonville, MO

Preservation topics in classroom sessions and tours.

For more details CLICK HERE.

October 29-November 2

National Preservation Conference

Indianapolis, IN

Preservation topics in classroom sessions and tours.

For more details CLICK HERE.

November 12-13

Missouri Main Street Quarterly Workshops & Managers Training

Cape Girardeau, MO

Agenda details and schedule coming soon.

To download the complete MMSC 2013 Conference & Workshop Calendar, CLICK HERE.

The Main Street Four-Point Approach® to Revitalization

Design - implementation of public improvements, public spaces, facade improvements that maintain the historic character and design of the buildings; appropriate signage, parking, and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes.

Promotion - special events, retail promotions, brochures, image development.

Organization - public relations, fundraising, leadership training to develop the structure for a successful, long-term organization, and comprehensive work planning.

Economic Restructuring - developing a competitive direction for the downtown area, market surveys, business recruitment and business retention activities.

Our Partners in Revitalization

Visit our Website

Our Mission

The Mission of the Missouri Main Street Connection is to provide communities with the knowledge and tools to economically and physically revitalize their downtowns.

MMSC works to ensure that the downtown districts in Missouri's cities and towns remain essential elements to their sense of community, their cultural heritage and to the state's economy. Downtown revitalization is encouraged through economic development within the context of historic preservation. The primary purpose is to ensure the long-term success of the downtown by creating, educating, training and empowering a comprehensive, professional, volunteer-based downtown revitalization organization.

Missouri's Annual Premier Revitalization Conference & Evening of Excellence

Missouri Main Street Connection will host the 5th Annual "Get Plugged In...Downtown" Revitalization Conference July 23-25, 2013, in Kansas City, Missouri.

This conference will offer two full days of sessions covering fresh, topical ideas and in-the-field educational tours related to the theme for 2013: "Creative Communities, Hip Neighborhoods & Cool Buildings."

Attendees will be inspired and have opportunities to gain valuable new skills in downtown revitalization such as marketing, design, streetscapes, organizing not-for-profit boards, and fundraising.

The finale for Get Plugged In...Downtown will be the Evening of Excellence Dinner & Awards Ceremony where revitalization and achievement awards will be presented in 18 categories.

Make plans NOW to join the Missouri Main Street communities in Kansas City for two days of revitalization training and networking opportunities.

More details on Missouri's Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference are available at www.getpluggedindowntown.org.

Partnering Opportunities are Available

Join Missouri Main Street Connection, the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the National Main Street Center as we partner in building vibrant, sustainable communities.

Sponsorship opportunities and Exhibitor spaces are still available for "Get Plugged In...Downtown" Missouri's Premier Revitalization Conference. This conference fosters new ideas, innovative solutions and unique networking opportunities and draws community leaders from small towns, mid-sized cities and urban neighborhood business districts.

As a conference partner, you support the people working to revitalize their communities. From energizing local, independent businesses to refurbishing historic buildings, together we are developing vibrant, sustainable local economies. You will also have direct access to our statewide network through on-site, one-on-one engagements, as well as opportunities to reach your clients through print, web and social outreach.

Sponsorship opportunities are available ranging from "Main Street Partner" level of $5000 to "Goodie Bag" level of $200. CLICK HERE to reserve your sponsorship or call us at 417-334-3014.

The Main Street Expo is a great way to reach decision makers as they gather in one setting. Special conference features include prize drawings, network breaks and continental breakfast ALL in the Expo. Exhibitor spaces are available as a Table Top or 6 x 8 Booth. Only 6 Expo Spaces remain open, so call us today at 417-334-3014, or CLICK HERE to reserve your exhibit space.

National Main Street

National Main Street Center Has a New Leader

After a long national search by the National Main Street Center board of trustees, Patrice Frey has been named the first president and CEO of the Center. Ms. Frey has been active in the field of preservation, community development and sustainability for almost 15 years and has provided thought leadership in the sustainable communities field and has served as lead author on a number of papers and studies. (CLICK HERE for an in-depth article.)

National Main Streets Conference

The 2013 National Main Streets Conference was held in New Orleans, Louisiana, in mid-April. Downtown Revitalization Experts, Managers and Volunteers came together to share educational opportunities and events that inspired over 1200 attendees from across the Nation. More than 30 people from Missouri representing eight communities attended this four-day conference.

2012 Reinvestment Statistics

The National Main Street Center annually collects statistical information on economic activity in local Main Street programs throughout the country. These estimates are based on cumulative statistics gathered from 1980 to December 31, 2012 for all designated Main Street communities nationwide.

*Dollars Reinvested:**	$55.7 billion
Net gain in businesses:	109,664
Net gain in jobs:	473,439
Number of building rehabilitations:	236,201
Reinvestment Ratio (i):	$18:$1

Notes:

*Total reinvestment in physical improvements from public and private sources.

(i) The Reinvestment Ratio measures the amount of new investment that occurs, on average, for every dollar a participating community spends to support the operation of its Main Street program, based on medial annual program costs reported to the National Trust Main Street Center by its coordinating programs. This number is not cumulative and represents investment and organization budgets from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012.

Missouri Main Street Connection Year in Review - 2012

MMSC Revitalization Services Provided to Missouri communities in 2012:

Quarterly Training held in Jefferson City
Quarterly Training held in Excelsior Springs
Main Street Basic Training held in St. Louis, MO
Managers' Training held in Jefferson City and Excelsior Springs
Main Street Capital Day in Jefferson City
Staff attended National Main Street Conference in Baltimore, Maryland

2 days of training for State Coordinating Programs before the conference began
Gayla Roten, MMSC State Director, presented a workshop during the National Conference
MMSC held networking events & Missouri State Dinner
30 individuals from Missouri attended the National Conference
4 of the Main Street Managers, presented at the National Main Street Conference

MMSC Provided Organizational and Tech Visits To:

Clinton
Liberty
Sedalia
Cape Girardeau
Chillicothe
Washington
Warrensburg
Lee's Summit
Excelsior Springs

MMSC Staff Provided 3 Affiliate Grant Workshops in 2012:

In Jefferson City & St. Louis - 40 communities attended.

MMSC Staff Provided Affiliate Visits To:

Seymour - Board Training, Work Planning
Peculiar - Capacity Building, Events Consult
Monett - Work Planning, Hispanic Engagement, Work Planning
Appleton City - Four Point Training & Work Planning, Board Training, Work Planning
Concordia - Board Training, Town Hall, Work Planning, Infill Opportunities
Belton - City Council Year in Review
Cassville - Fundraising Consult, Work Planning & Best Practices
Lamar - Board Training & Fundraising
Cabool - Board Training
Blue Springs - Town Hall
Bolivar - Start-up Consult
California - Start-up Consult
Holden - Start-up Consult
Vine Street District - Start-up Consult, Town Hall

MMSC Staff Provided Accreditation Visits To:

Chillicothe
Lee's Summit
Liberty
Cape Girardeau
Washington
Clinton
Sedalia
Warrensburg
Excelsior Springs

MMSC Staff Provided On-site Consultations to:

Odessa
Lexington
Sedalia
Fayette
Cherokee District

Staff Presented Main Street Topics at Special Conferences:

Gayla Roten with Norma Ramirez de Miess, presented at the National Main Street Conference in Baltimore.
Gayla Roten presented at the National Trust Preservation Conference during State Coordinators Meeting in Spokane.
Gayla Roten presented to the Missouri Preservation Conference in St. Louis.
Jeanine Rann with Crystal Narr and Julie Turnipseed presented at the National Main Street Conference.

Staff and volunteers presented the 4^th Annual Downtown Revitalization Conference in July of 2012, in St. Louis, MO:

Speakers included the National Trust for Historic Preservation Deputy Director and two National Main Street Program Directors.
205 attended
16 new communities attended
25 educational sessions
6 educational tours
20 sponsors
14 exhibitors

Direct Services Provided to the Communities:

$231,500 - Raised in private contributions for support of the MMSC program in 2012.
161 days in 2012 - Staff worked on-site in the communities.
Received State Coordinating Program Designation from National Main Street Center.

Staff attended the Missouri Preservation Conference and the Missouri Community Betterment Conference in 2012:

Staff provided an exhibit of educational items from Missouri Main Street Connection.

Main Street Outreach Committee:

The Main Street Outreach Committee educates new communities about the Main Street Four-Point Approach® to Revitalization. The committee also educates communities that have abandoned the Main Street Program about the importance of re-establishing the program in their communities.

Outreach - 2012 Successes:

Vine Street brought in as our first urban district; an Affiliate Grant recipient
Personal contact made by committee members and staff to Lexington, Ferguson, St. Louis, The Grove, South Grand District and Stockyard District
Met with Senator Pearce to plan a Regional Luncheon for 2013
5 new communities attended the MMSC Quarterly Workshops
40 communities attended the Affiliate Grant Workshops
313 individuals attended training/workshops facilitated by MMSC staff
11% increase in Membership since March 2012
Service Directory direct mailed to 285 communities
Expanded use of Social Media as a marketing and awareness tool

Main Street Financial Resource Development Committee:

The Main Street Resource Development Committee establishes financial stability for MMSC so that it will be able to serve Missouri communities for years into the future, with strong partnerships from different areas of financial resources.

Financial Resource Development - 2012 Successes:

$191,500 raised in Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) contributions.
Expansion of ideas for corporate sponsorships
Received grant from US Bank
Identified additional grant opportunities
Increased conference sponsorship donations

Main Street Caucus Committee:

The Main Street Caucus Committee advocates to the Legislative Branch for continued service of the Missouri Main Street program with adequate funding to support the Mission and Vision of the program.

Caucus - 2012 Successes:

Proven outcome measurement of the program
Expansion of the Advisory Committee
Held Main Street Capital Day
Restructured Legislative Literature
Held interactive session during State Conference to educate communities on advocacy