DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE

MAIN STREET PROGRAM:

In hundreds of cities and towns throughout the United States, civic leaders are working to bring life back to Main Street. Whether it is the major downtown corridor in a small town or the commercial center of a larger city, Main Street is being rediscovered. As they work to reinforce and rekindle the economic vitality and values that signify the Main Street principles, communities are utilizing the Main Street four-point approach to community revitalization. In North Carolina, communities are turning to the North Carolina Main Street Center (NCMSC) for assistance.

WHAT IS MAIN STREET?
Main Street is a national program that began in 1980. The Main Street program has been adopted by 38 states and 1,500 cities nationally. North Carolina currently has 45 active Main Street communities. Main Street is a comprehensive approach to downtown revitalization that encourages economic development within the context of historic preservation. The program is designed to improve all aspects of downtown, making it a shopping, service and social center. Main Street has earned national recognition as a practical strategy scaled to meet a community's resources and conditions.

Concord was designated as a North Carolina Main Street community in 1990. Concord Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC) has been active in the programs offered by the North Carolina Main Street Center. CDDC attends quarterly meetings with other Main Street communities, utilizes the Main Street staff for design assistance, organizational issues, and technical assistance in building community consensus.

The Main Street program, based in Raleigh, is funded by a state appropriation through the Division of Community Assistance. Since 1980, the cumulative total of reinvestment in North Carolina Main Street communities is $598 million.

Orqanization: CDDC utilizes leadership from the public and private sector to build consensus and make changes downtown. Diverse groups have a stake in downtown including: business owners, professionals, property owners, elected officials, corporate citizens, consumers, media representatives, bankers, realtors, historical societies, and civic organizations.

Business Development: CDDC strengthens the existing economic assets of the central business district while diversifying the economic base. Activities include assisting existing downtown businesses with their expansion efforts, recruiting new businesses to provide a balanced mix, sharpening the competitiveness of downtown retailers and services, and analyzing downtown's potential role in the local economy.

Desiqn & Beautification: CDDC facilitates enhancing the physical appearance of downtown with attention to historic building rehabilitation, window displays, parking facilities, signs, and other elements that convey a visual message about what downtown is and what it has to offer.

Promotions & Marketing: CDDC markets downtown's unique characteristics to customers, investors, and visitors by building a positive image of the historic business district through retail promotional activities, special events, and educational programs.

Viable downtowns are critical to the health of the entire community. Healthy downtowns preserve and create employment opportunities. Healthy downtowns add to a strong tax base. Long-term downtown revitalization provides an environment for prosperous businesses that use public services and contribute tax revenues for the community. A revitalized downtown increases the community's options for goods and services. A revitalized downtown influences corporate decisions to locate to the community .Downtown Concord is a symbol of community pride. Downtown revitalization in Concord may be measured in dollars and cents as well as in the high quality of life that is reflected in Concord.