The Main Street Four-Point Approach® leverages local assets: historic, cultural and architectural resources as well as local enterprises and community pride. It is a comprehensive strategy to address the many issues that challenge historic commercial districts. These points are the keys to a successful strategy:

Organization involves building a Main Street framework that is well represented by businesses and property owners, bankers, citizens, historic preservationists, entrepreneurs, public officials, chambers of commerce, and other local economic development organizations. Everyone must work together to renew downtown. A strong organization provides the structure and stability to build and maintain a long-term effort.

Promotion creates excitement and vibrancy downtown. Street festivals, parades, retail events and image development campaigns are some of the ways Main Street educates a community on what can be downtown and encourages customer traffic. Promotion presents an inviting image to shoppers, investors and visitors.

Design enhances the look and feel of the commercial district. Historic building rehabilitation, street and alley cleanup, landscaping, street furniture, signage, visual merchandising and lighting all improve the physical image of a downtown as a desirable place to shop, work, walk, live and invest in development. Design improvements create a reinvestment of both public and private dollars downtown.

Economic Vitality involves analyzing current market forces to develop long-term solutions. Recruiting new businesses, creatively converting unused space for new uses, and sharpening the competitiveness of Main Street’s traditional merchants are examples.