Main Street Approach
Overview
The Main Street Four-Point Approach® is a unique preservation-based economic development tool that enables communities to revitalize downtown and neighborhood business districts by leveraging local assets - from historic, cultural, and architectural resources to local enterprises and community pride. It is a comprehensive strategy that addresses the variety of issues and problems that challenge traditional commercial districts.
What are the Four Points?
In Texas and all across the country, local programs operate under the National Main Street Center’s Four-Point Approach™ of organization, promotion, design, and economic restructuring.
- Organization: Builds an effective coalition of public and private sector stakeholders, working in partnership with organizations who share an interest in the health of downtown and the community. Local activities in this area might include grant writing and/or enhancing public awareness of sound preservation practices.
- Promotion: Markets a unified, quality image of the business district as the center of activities, goods, and services to retailers, shoppers, investors, and tourists. Local activities in this area might include heritage festivals, retail promotions, or image development.
- Design: Creates an attractive, coordinated, and quality image of the downtown by capitalizing on unique physical assets and heritage. Local activities in this area might include building rehabilitation's, property inventories and/or preservation ordinances.
- Economic Restructuring or Economic Vitality: Identifies new market opportunities for the commercial district, finds new uses for historic commercial buildings, and stimulates investment in property. Works to strengthen existing businesses; identify new business opportunities; find new, higher, more appropriate uses for vacant buildings; and/or intensify the uses of buildings. Local activities in this area might include business retention / recruitment or establishing local incentive programs.
