Thursday, June 30, 2011
Training Offered To Tennessee Main Street
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.”
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.
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.
