20th Anniversary: Impact That Talks – Diane Hannah
Logan Breer | June 23, 2026
What do you think about in the morning when you drink coffee?
Well, a lot of things. My family, but especially my grandkids. It seems I have become an unpaid Uber driver but I love being available to help with my grandkids and to attend their activities. Being retired has given me time to think as well as do things that I put off while working. I’ve spent over 35 years in Main Street between Clinton Main Street and Missouri Main Street Connection. Though I am retired from my job with Missouri Main Street Connection where I helped Missouri communities of all sizes revitalize their downtowns, I am still involved in Main Street locally in Clinton, again.
How did you get connected to Main Street?
I volunteered for Clinton Main Street years ago when I was running my clothing story on the Square. I spent about 20 years running my store, but when the retail landscape began to change there was an opportunity for me to sell my building and I took it. After that, I had wondered what I would do next. Around that time the director position opened at Clinton Main Street. I was the president at the time and thought I could contribute in a positive and meaningful way.
Has Main Street changed at all since you started in the 1980’s?
Not at its core. Main Street has adapted and developed since it began as a pilot program with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, but at its core it remains the same structure that successfully facilitates historic preservation-based economic development. That is why it works so well in so many communities, including my own community.
“The Main Street framework transforms scattered energy into coordinated progress.”
Now that doesn’t stop well-meaning people from trying to do their own version of Main Street That may work for a short time but the baby steps Main Street teaches have a purpose. Trust the process. You may not see why a certain something is taught, or why it’s suggested to do something a certain way but just believe it and do it. There’s a reason.
Any final comments?
It has been a privilege to work with so many amazing people. What Gayla, Bridgette, I, and many others started twenty years ago, still stands and provides resources to hundreds of Missouri communities.
Stay tuned for more 20th anniversary stories where you get to know the people behind the Main Street movement in Missouri in a new way. We look forward to you reading and hope that this story intrigues you to pick up our 20th anniversary book released in July at the 2026 Missouri’s Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference.
