ECD Hosts Downtown Revitalization Workshop
Training Offered to Tennessee Main Street, Tennessee Downtowns Programs
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development hosted a two-day Downtown Revitalization Workshop at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Monday, June 27 – Tuesday, June 28. Representatives from Tennessee’s 24 Main Street Program communities and 12 newly selected Tennessee Downtowns communities attended the free educational workshop, which was made possible through a $50,000 sponsorship from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
“Revitalizing downtown commercial districts enhances the quality of life for our citizens and makes our communities more attractive to business investment,” said Commissioner Bill Hagerty, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. “I congratulate our Tennessee Main Street and Tennessee Downtowns program participants on their hard work and dedication to making their communities even better places to live and work.”
Keynote speakers for the workshop included Commissioner Hagerty; Valecia Crissifulli, senior director of partnerships for the Preservation Division National Trust for Historic Preservation; and Kennedy Smith, principal of The Community Land Use and Economics (CLUE). Training for the workshop was provided by the Tennessee Main Street Program staff and the National Main Street Center staff.
“The work that Main Street Program communities are doing sets an exceptional example for Tennessee Downtowns communities to follow by adding a great deal of value for the existing members of the community, as well as to potential new businesses and residents,” said Kimberly Nyberg, director of the Tennessee Main Street Program and Tennessee Downtowns. “The training provided at our Downtown Revitalization Workshop will help these communities create a long-term strategy for their communities’ sustainability and development.”
The 2010 Community Reinvestment Statistics reported Tennessee Main Street Program communities generating more than $89 million in public and private investment in downtown districts, creating 400 net new jobs, 94 net new businesses and 222 building rehabilitation projects.
Main Street revitalization is a comprehensive, incremental, self-help economic strategy that also focuses on developing public-private partnerships to enhance community livability and job creation, while maintaining the historic character of the district. For information about the Main Street Program and the Main Street Four Point Approachtm, visit http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/about-main-street/.
The Tennessee Main Street Program includes Believe in Bristol, Main Street Greeneville, Inc., Main Street Cleveland, Jackson Downtown Development, Main Street Collierville, Johnson City Development Authority, Columbia Main Street, Downtown Kingsport Association, CityScape/Cookeville, Main Street Lawrenceburg, Crossroads Partnership/City of Morristown, Main Street McMinnville, Dandridge Community Trust, Main Street Murfreesboro, Main Street Dayton, Rogersville Main Street, Main Street Dyersburg, Savannah Main Street, Fayetteville Main Street, Tiptonville Main Street, Downtown Franklin Association, Main Street Union City, Greater Gallatin and Ripley Main Street.
The second round of Tennessee Downtowns communities was announced in December which included McKenzie, Henderson, Athens, Linden, Red Boiling Springs, Smithville, Centerville, Brownsville, Lewisburg, Mountain City, Rockwood and Pikeville. Each are home to downtown commercial districts established at least 50 years ago and have demonstrated their readiness to organize efforts for downtown revitalization based on the successful “Main Street Four-Point Approach to Downtown Revitalizationtm.”
For more information about Tennessee Main Street Program and Tennessee Downtowns, visit www.tennesseemainstreet.org.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies which help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. To find out more, go to www.tn.gov/ecd.
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Contact: Shannon Sumrall, ECD
Office: (615) 253-4897
E-mail: shannon.sumrall@tn.gov