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10 Things That Made Conference Successful
What happened in WashMO...doesn't have to stay in WashMO. Thinking about "The Power of 10," we picked the 10 best things that happened during the 2016 Annual Downtown Revitalization Conference in Washington, Missouri.
5. The 10 "hottest" flavors of ice cream and the 10 best pies from Cowan's Restaurant were served.
6. Attendees made great and hopefully rewarding connections through networking events.
7. Anniversary cookies and cake were served. (Wait a minute...we did more than eat at conference!)
9. Washington and MMSC volunteers made the wheels of conference turn smoothly.
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Are You Reaching Your Goals?
Does your staff function as a team? Is your board energized? Is your program's strategic plan effective? Whatever your goals, Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC) can help you reach them.
MMSC has space available for off-site training and learning for up to 24 people, in a retreat-like and affordable location.
Some of the services available through MMSC include board retreat, team-building, Four-Points training, new board orientation, and new director training. A complete service directory can be found online.
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Upcoming 2016 Events
Missouri Municipal League Annual Conference
September 11-14
St. Louis, MO
Missouri Preservation Conference
October 19-21
Hannibal, MO
Preservation topics in classroom sessions and tours. Details are available at preservemo.org.
Missouri Main Street Directors' Meeting & Training
November 10
Chillicothe, MO
This workshop is required for all directors/managers of Main Street programs currently under contract with MMSC.
MMSC Downtown Revitalization Workshop
"Economic Vitality = Results"
November 11
Chillicothe, MO
Learn how to successfully integrate an effective Economic Vitality strategy with the Main Street philosophy. Register now.
National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference
November 15-18
Houston, TX
Visit the 2016 PastForward website for more information.
Visit the Upcoming Trainings page on our website for details about events for 2016.
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Our Partners in Revitalization
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Visit Our Website
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Our Mission
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The Mission of the Missouri Main Street Connection is to provide communities with the knowledge and tools to economically and physically revitalize their downtowns.
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Main Street Champions Recognized
Missouri Main Street Connection, Inc. (MMSC) is celebrating 10 years of excellence in downtown revitalization work as a Missouri nonprofit organization. MMSC was launched by 12 local program managers in 2006 after cuts to the Missouri state budget resulted in the loss of support. The managers were determined to keep the state program in place for the support of local programs. After numerous meetings and many phone calls, the decision was made to form a nonprofit organization.
To mark this milestone, MMSC recently hosted the Evening of Excellence Awards Dinner and 10-Year Anniversary Celebration on July 28, 2016, in downtown Washington, Missouri. Communities, individuals, businesses, and organizations received awards for their exemplary revitalization work in their neighborhoods and statewide. Additionally, MMSC honored seven individuals for their outstanding leadership over the past 10 years.
The first recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award was former Community Development Specialist (now retired) for MMSC, Phyllis VanderNaald, for her dedication of 22 years to downtown revitalization across the state.
Bridgette Kelch and Diane Hannah received the award for their pioneer spirit to establish MMSC, and both are still involved in the nonprofit today.
Current MMSC Board President, Steven Hoffman, Ph.D., was celebrated for his dedication to the Missouri Main Street program since 2006.
Sallie Hemenway of the Missouri DED was recognized for her unwavering dedication to the mission and the vision of Missouri Main Street Connection.
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The Outstanding Leadership Award winners helped MMSC's director light the 10th anniversary cake during the Evening of Excellence.
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Sheri Stuart received the honor for her organizational support in helping the pioneers establish a nonprofit Main Street program.
Main Street America® Field Staff Representative, Norma Ramirez de Miess was honored for her continued contribution of support and encouragement in making Missouri communities one of the best places to live, open businesses, and play.
State Director for MMSC, Gayla Roten presented the awards and said, "Without these champions of Main Street, MMSC would not be the successful nonprofit program it is today."
Today MMSC is supported financially by corporate sponsors, individual contributors, grants, and the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED). The current Board of Directors is comprised of Main Street professionals, revitalization and preservation specialists, professors, attorneys, bankers, legislators and Missouri DED staff members.
What started as a small group effort with only volunteers has grown into a statewide organization with six professional staff members and 16 Board members that has served over 140 Missouri communities with revitalization training, mentoring, technical services, state conferences, advocacy, and research.
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Is Your Economic Vitality Strategy Working?
Do you recognize the importance of Economic Vitality (EV) in your downtown revitalization program? Are your efforts to plan and execute an effective EV strategy falling flat? Join Missouri Main Street in Chillicothe, Missouri, on November 11, 2016, for our fall quarterly workshop, "Economic Vitality = Results" to learn how to successfully integrate your EV strategy with the Main Street philosophy.
This workshop will focus on how Economic Vitality can be integrated throughout the entire Main Street organization using these learning objectives:
- How to package the organization's worth to partners like the city, sponsors, business owners, retailers, volunteers and residents.
- What data needs to be collected and shared? From mining data to implementation to tracking and visually demonstrating trends.
- How to communicate those numbers to investors or the city council.
- Sharing real-world examples from across the Midwest to illustrate a 3-D approach to EV that engages volunteers and partners.
- Equip Main Street organizations to achieve - and celebrate - EV success.
Jay Schlinsog, owner and managing principal of Downtown Professionals Network, will break down the EV topic and its related challenges in the simplest terms. Using his 25+ years of experience in community and economic development, he will demonstrate how the diverse experiences and backgrounds of local EV players can translate to economic development success for Main Street.
Find more details online. Registrations are accepted online or by mail.
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Missouri Communities Win Downtown Revitalization Awards
Missouri Main Street Connection Inc. (MMSC) presented downtown revitalization awards on July 28, 2016, recognizing revitalization excellence during the Annual Missouri Main Street Conference in downtown Washington, Missouri. The event was hosted at the St. Francis Borgia Parish Jesuit Hall also located in downtown Washington.
One of the highlights of celebration at the ceremony was to honor the 10th anniversary of Missouri Main Street Connection, Inc. MMSC was launched as a non-profit organization in 2006 after the state funded program had its funding cut. MMSC is designed to help communities preserve their historic buildings and reinvigorate their downtown districts. MMSC serves 114 communities across the state of Missouri. Through this work, the communities actively participating in the Missouri Main Street program have successfully created 526 net new businesses and 2,936 net new jobs.
Based on economic data collected from the communities in the top three tiers of the Missouri Main Street program, since 2006, $683 million of private investments have been made in the Main Street communities. Public investments by municipal governments have totaled $140 million in improvements to infrastructure.
The ceremony Thursday night also honored communities, individuals, businesses and civic organizations from across the state, that have completed exemplary work in downtown revitalization. Competitive nominations were submitted for projects, activities and individuals in 16 different categories that covered aspects of design, economic vitality, organization, promotion and other efforts in downtown revitalization. The categories included the Volunteer of the Year, and Best Façade Rehabilitation. There were also many new categories this year including the placemaking award Creating Creative Place and the Outstanding Leadership Award which celebrated individuals who were instrumental to the success of MMSC over the past 10 years.
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Are You Investing in Missouri Communities?
Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC) is the only organization in the state dedicated exclusively to the economic and physical revitalization of Missouri's downtown and business districts. MMSC provides downtown development services, guidance and technical training, and advocacy services to communities regardless of size, demographics or location.
You can feel confident that your support of MMSC is truly making a difference and puts you at the center of our efforts to develop the sense of place, quality of life, and economic vitality of Missouri's downtowns and traditional neighborhood business districts.
For us to continue our work and to expand our reach to even more Missouri communities, we ask that you consider becoming a yearly investor. Please contact the MMSC office at 417-334-3014 or visit our website for more information and to join our Missouri Main Street family.
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Affiliate Grant Cycle Is Open
Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC) is accepting applications for the Affiliate Grant program. This program is designed to help communities form a Main Street or downtown revitalization program. Using a 60/40 cost share, MMSC provides $23,500 in revitalization training and services to grant recipients over two years.
To be eligible, applicants must have attended one Affiliate Grant Workshop and must submit a Letter of Intent by September 23, 2016. Applications for the Affiliate Grant are due by October 21, 2016. Communities who are awarded the Affiliate Grant will be notified October 31, 2016.
To apply, download the Affiliate Grant Applications for 2016, which includes the Letter of Intent. Please call the MMSC office at 417-334-3014 or email to info@momainstreet.org for addtional information or if you have any questions.
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