Tennessee Downtowns is a new tier program of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s Tennessee Main Street Program offered to communities with older traditional downtown districts (50 years and older) that are interested in the process of revitalization and historic preservation based on the nationally successful "Main Street Approach to Revitalization ™".

The selection of communities will take place through a competitive application process and communities will be chosen to receive a downtown revitalization package which includes technical assistance; full scholarship to a two-day downtown revitalization workshop; follow up; and a project grant opportunity for selected communities. This new program will give the selected community an eighteen month introduction into the organization and process of downtown revitalization and preservation. At the end of the program, communities may wish to continue downtown revitalization and/or apply for Tennessee Main Street Program certification.

This new program will give selected communities an 18-month introduction to the organization and process of downtown revitalization and historic preservation. Communities that participate in the Tennessee Downtowns program may wish to continue a self-initiated downtown revitalization effort at the end of the program or apply for certification in the Tennessee Main Street Program through the competitive application process. Communities will not automatically be accepted into the Main Street Program.

Program Benefits:

• Getting Started Site Visit: The selected communities will receive site visits during which an experienced team will assist the steering committee with the development of a downtown organization. A site visit team will consist of a three TNECD staff members and/or Tennessee Main Street Program mentors.
• Downtown Revitalization Workshop: A comprehensive two-day Downtown Revitalization Workshop in Middle Tennessee in spring or summer of 2010 will examine all areas of downtown revitalization and community development. The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center and Tennessee Main Street Program will present the workshop based on the “Main Street Four-Point Approach to Revitalization ®” and Main Street Guiding Principals, offering strategies and case studies that exemplify successful downtown revitalization practices. The workshop will be open to the volunteer steering committees of the newly selected Tennessee Downtowns communities and staff and committees of the certified Tennessee Main Street Program communities.
• Technical Assistance: Throughout the program, members of TNECD staff, REDS, planning staff and Tennessee Main Street Program mentors will be assigned to each community participating in the Tennessee Downtowns process to work with the steering committee on developing a strategy for local revitalization effort. Reinvestment and progress reports will be made during this program.
• Innovation Grant Project: Each community will receive a reimbursable grant to complete an innovative project within their downtown district reflecting the four areas of downtown revitalization and Main Street principals. Grant projects will reference the “Main Street Four-Point Approach to Revitalization ®,” and will be a tangible project in the area of design, promotion, economic restructuring/business development and/or organization.

Communities must:

• Designate a project area: Concentrate all efforts in a traditional commercial district that is 50 years or older;
• Have a designated five-member volunteer steering committee dedicated to go through this process;
• Have a designated non-profit 501(c)(3) organization or city municipality that will host the steering committee for the program;
• Illustrate interest on the behalf of the citizens for the revitalization of downtown;
• Illustrate how the city/county municipality recognizes the importance of downtown as an asset to the community;
• Adopt a resolution by the city government to participate in the program;
• Clearly demonstrate economic need for a downtown revitalization effort through economic factors such as a high vacancy rate in downtown, lack of businesses in the downtown, disinvestment in the project area either public or private; dilapidated buildings or aging infrastructure;
• Submit a complete application with a narrative and attached supporting materials including maps and a presentation.

A team of professionals will review each application based on the information provided by that community. The team may be composed of professionals from business development, community development, planning, historic preservation, tourism and economic development.

It is always best to have the steering committee work together as a team to complete the application. A strong application will address all the questions in narrative form and provide clear and honest answers. Maps and a Powerpoint presentation must also accompany the application.

This program follows the Main Street “Four-Point Approach for Downtown Revitalization ®,” which works best in a traditional commercial district setting with commercial buildings at least 50 years old.

An established effort focused on downtown is always a first step. If your community has started a downtown revitalization effort and is in the basic and entry level stages of implementation, this program may be a good fit. However, if you have substantial downtown revitalization efforts in place, this program may be too basic for you. Communities participating in the Tennessee Main Street Program and Courthouse Square Pilot Project are not eligible to apply.

This program is designed to work with a dedicated five-member volunteer steering committee that should comprise a broad mix of individuals from the community. Tennessee Downtowns will focus on organizational development efforts boards, standing committees, volunteers and eventually staff. It is not a requirement or recommended that paid staff be on board at the outset to participate in Tennessee Downtowns.

There is not a cost for a community to participate. However, each municipality will be required to adopt a resolution stating that the designated steering committee will meet and attend all required meetings and trainings of Tennessee Downtowns.

Communities that participate in the Tennessee Downtowns program may wish to continue a self-initiated downtown revitalization effort at the end of the program or apply for certification in the Tennessee Main Street Program through the competitive application process. Communities will not automatically be accepted into the Main Street Program.

Tennessee Main Street Program
kimberly.nyberg@tn.gov
(615) 532-3595

What is Main Street?

Developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation 30 years ago, the National Main Street Center encourages public-private partnerships to enhance community livability and job creation while maintaining the historic character of communities’ traditional commercial districts. The Main Street Four-Point Approachtm is a community-driven, comprehensive methodology used to revitalize historic downtowns nationwide, addressing the variety of challenges that face traditional business districts in a common sense way. The Main Street Approach advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment and the rebuilding of traditional commercial districts based on unique assets such as distinctive architecture, a pedestrian-friendly environment and local ownership.

Why is downtown important?

A community’s central business district often accounts for as much as 30 percent of its jobs and 40 percent of its tax base. It is a community’s crossroads, a place in our hearts and minds that evoke strong emotions and helps define our identity.

• Revitalization protects the existing tax base. Private investment in banks, businesses and commercial property and public investment in streets, sidewalks and water and sewer lines are protected and enhanced.
• Revitalization provides an incubator for new business. A viable downtown offers opportunities and incentives for the new entrepreneurs such as lower rent and technical assistance.
• Revitalization helps attract industrial development. Downtown reflects the overall image a community projects to potential investors. An invigorated downtown makes a very positive statement about the whole community.
• Revitalization provides a point of focus and stability. A vibrant downtown gives the whole community and region a sense of pride and positive self-image. It also serves as an anchor that holds the community together and provides the stability necessary for economic growth.

What are the Main Street four-points?

In recent years, many approaches to downtown revitalization, from urban renewal to paint-up, fix-up projects, have failed because they focused on just one or two problems, rather than dealing with the full spectrum of interrelated issues that affect traditional commercial districts. Main Street has been successful in 1,700 communities across the country because of its comprehensive nature.

• Organization means getting everyone working toward the same goal. The tough work of building consensus and cooperation among groups that have an important stake in the district can be eased by using the common-sense formula of a volunteer-driven program and an organizational structure of boards and committees.
• Promotion means selling the image and promise of Main Street to all prospects. By marketing the district’s unique characteristics to shoppers, investors, new businesses and visitors, an effective promotional strategy forges a positive image through advertising, retail promotional activity, special events and marketing campaigns carried out by local volunteers.
• Design means getting Main Street into top physical shape. Capitalizing on its best assets – such as historic buildings and traditional downtown layout – is just part of the story. An inviting atmosphere created through window displays, parking areas, signs, sidewalks, street lights and landscaping conveys a visual message about what Main Street is and what it has to offer.
• Economic restructuring means finding a new purpose for Main Street’s enterprises. By helping existing businesses expand and recruiting new ones to respond to today’s market, Main Street programs help convert unused space into productive property and sharpen the competitiveness of business enterprises.

What makes the Main Street four-point approach unique?

• Comprehensive. Downtown revitalization is a complex process and cannot be accomplished through a single project. For successful long-term revitalization, a comprehensive approach must be utilized.
• Incremental. Small projects and simple activities lead to a more sophisticated understanding of the revitalization process and help to develop skills so that more complex problems can be addressed and more ambitious projects can be undertaken.
• Self-help. Nobody else will save Main Street. Local leaders must have the desire and will to make the project successful. The National Main Street Center and Tennessee Main Street Program provide direction, ideas and training, but continued and long-term success depends upon the involvement and commitment of the community.
• Public-private partnership. The public and private sectors have a vital interest in the economic health and physical viability of the downtown. Each sector has a role to play and each must understand the other’s strengths and limitations to forge an effective partnership.
• Identifying and capitalizing on existing assets. History is on our side. Business districts must capitalize on the assets that make them unique. Every district has unique qualities, such as the distinctive buildings and human scale, which give people a sense of belonging. These local assets must serve as the foundation for all aspects of the revitalization program.
• Quality. Build to last. Quality must be emphasized in every aspect of the revitalization program. This applies equally to each element of the program, from storefront design to promotional campaigns to educational programs.
• Change. Skeptics turn into believers. Almost no one believes Main Street can really turn around, at first. Changes in attitude and practice are slow and definite but necessary to improve current economic conditions. Public support for change will build as the program grows.
• Implementation-oriented. Make a difference today. Activity creates confidence in the program and even greater levels of participation. Frequent, visible changes are a reminder that the revitalization effort is under way—starting small and building on successes.