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Main Street Program discontinued

The Cheyenne County Chamber Board has made the decision to no longer be apart of the Main Street Program offered in Nebraska by the Nebraska Historical Society.

The Nebraska Main Street Network was established to help communities develop traditional commercial districts so towns can attract residents and businesses, promote commercial investment and gain economic growth. The program originally helped communities walk through the revitalization process, develop partnerships and plan for the future.

According to its website, The Main Street Network has developed a Four-Point Approach which is a “community-driven, comprehensive strategy that encourages economic development through historic preservation in ways that are appropriate for today’s marketplace.”

The National Trust for Historic Preservation developed Main Street Four Point Approach in 1977 in response to continued threats to historic commercial architecture and economic activity in small downtowns. The Nebraska Main Street Network works in cooperation with the National Main Street Center to provide resources and technical assistance to communities statewide.

Nebraska’s Main Street communities have a management organization with paid staff, active board and committee leadership dedicated to ongoing revitalization and management activities. Main Street communities receive on-site technical assistance, participate in regular training programs, and have access to grant opportunities and other special programs.

The only towns with programs left in Nebraska’s program, Beatrice, Falls City, Fremont, Grand Island, Plattsmouth, Sidney and Wayne.

According to recent numbers posted by the Main Street Program all of the programs with the exception of Beatrice have continually become less successful throughout the past three years.

Cheyenne County Chamber Director Denise Wilkinson said the board is currently struggling to find positive financial reasons to continue funding the Main Street Program. Over the years the State of Nebraska has cut funding for the program, leaving cities and chambers in participating towns responsible to come up with the money for the program.

The Chamber’s directors voted unanimously to discontinue the Main Street Program for 2017.

 

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