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The Role of Minnesota Main Street <br />As the official statewide coordinating program, the Minnesota Main Street program: <br />Competitively selects local Main Street programs for participation; <br />Provides technical assistance and-when available-financial assistance to communities; <br />Provides quarterly trainings in the application <br />of the Main Street Four Point Approach'"'; <br />Creates a membership network for <br />participating and aspiring Main Street <br />communities by acting as a resource far <br />networking, education, and advocacy; <br />Acts as a clearinghouse for resources for the <br />r .. nt~. <br />Main Street network; <br />• Certifies which communities have met the <br />standards for accreditation by NMSC. <br />Investment <br />Front Street; Manka[o, Minnesota -Circa 1911 <br />Courtesy of the Minnesota Hlstorical5ociety <br />In its first year of operation, the Minnesota Main Street Program will invest almost $100,000 in <br />assessment visits, training seminars, technical assistance, and consulting services for its Main Street <br />membership network. This investment has been financed in part with funds provided by the State of <br />Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society. <br />Minnesota Main Street and its contractors wiil spend approximately 10 days In each Maln Street <br />community and provide an additional six days of training opportunities for participants in the network. <br />Communities being considered for designation as certified Main Streets will receive atwo-day visit by an <br />assessment team comprised of professionals in the fields of design, planning, organizational and <br />economic development, and marketing. Assessments will assist the community in understanding its <br />strengths and opportunities In applying the Main Street Four Point Approach'"'. The assessments will <br />help to guide the community in identifying the best application of its complimentary, professional <br />consulting services provided by Minnesota Main Street. Consulting services will assist in meeting the <br />community's needs in the areas of organization, design, economic restructuring, and / or promotions. <br />Designated Main Street communities are eligible to participate in trainings and conferences for no <br />additional fee. Trainings are open to local Main Street program directors and volunteers. <br />Results <br />Minnesota Main Street seeks to inspire local communities to directly engage in the revitalization of their <br />historic city centers through the Four Point Approach'"'. Local communities benefits from a coordinated <br />vision for the downtown inspiring hundreds of hours of volunteer time, an strengthened job and <br />business base, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in private investment to purchase, construct and <br />rehabilitate historic commercial district property. <br />For More Information: <br />Wi110'Keefe, Intern <br />Preservation Alliance of Minnesota <br />Minnesota Main Street <br />wokeefe(o~ mn preservation ore <br />www. mnpreservation.ora <br />(March 5, 20101 <br />